Shahzad Rasheed
Miss Rubab Mehdi regional commissioner for protection of women against Harassment at workplace, Peshawar said that “violence against women is not acceptable, nor excusable and neither tolerable anywhere in any community “while addressing a national seminar on 16 days activism campaign to end violence against women and girls held Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Auditorium, department of Archeology , university of Peshawar with the titled of, “ Role of Media in eradication of Gender Balance Violence”. It is the responsibility of media not only to report the harassment of GBV case but also to talks about the solution as well to the survivors. The Ombudsperson office, the national commission on the status of women and the Provincial commission on the status of women are the institutions where they can seek remedy and will be facilitated added by her. She insisted that the media should encourage the reporting of GBV cases along with the required process/steps, while keeping in mind the relevant protocols, so that the survivors could be prevent from further harm.
The seminar was organized by the Aurat foundation with the collaboration of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the status of women as a series of 16 days activism campaign to eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls, Now!
To encourage the raising of women voices against injustices, violations or deprivation of their due rights, the speakers present in the seminar expressed their views and discussed how media can play role for eradication of violence against women and girls.
On the occasion Mr. Ishfaq Ahmad Deputy Secretary, Social Welfare, Usher & zakat, special Education and women Empowerment, Miss Shabina Ayaz Resident Director Aurat Foundation, Mr. Faiz Ullah khan Chairman of the department of Mass Communication, university of Peshawar, Miss Riffat Shah spokesperson Peshawar Institute of Cardiology, Professor Doctor Kaneez Fatima Haider member of KPCSW, Mr. Ali Imran and Mr. were also the key note speaker.
All the speakers of the seminar highlighted how the media should play it role in eradication of Violence against women and Girls.
A collaborative approach, that combines sensitive reporting together with advocacy, sensitization, and support for media personnel would contribute a lot in public awareness regarding women rights, the relevant laws, which ultimately helpful in elimination of gender-based violence.
Miss Shabana Regional Director Aurat Foundation highlighted the objective of 16 days activism particularly the theme orang the world end violence against women and girls. The orange color indicates the happiness and bright future of women and girls. The world should be free from violence. Violation should be reported and encouraged and the process from lodging FIR till the court should be women user friendly, she added.
Mr. Faiz Ullah Khan chairman journalism and Mass Communication department express his views on the role of media in eradication of GBV against women and girls and said that most of the present laws are not in favor of women. The severity of laws has no guarantee to the prevent the gender-based violations but there should be certainty of punishment. The media should always use gender sensitive language while reporting the violations.
Miss Riffat Shah spokesperson for the Peshawar institute of Cardiology highlighted the violations and discrimination on the basis gender in media right from family to new room and media houses. She insisted that all the gender bases violation should be end from press club to media houses. Same salaries, privileges and titles should provide to women as provided to the men colleagues.
Mr Ali Imran and Doctor Irfan faculty members of journalism and Mass Communication expressed their views on the media role to eradicate Gender based violence against women. They insisted that the media can paly a crucial role and to report and cover the inequalities and injustice with women in the society. It is the need of the day that all media personals come together and promote the common cause of women rights, to prevent the gender bases violence.
Doctor Irfan faculty members of journalism and Mass Communication sum up the whole discussion and said that media plays a vital role in increasing awareness about GBV and women rights.
A collaborative approach, that combines sensitive reporting together with advocacy, sensitization, and support for media personnel would contribute a lot in public awareness regarding women rights, the relevant laws, which ultimately helpful in elimination of gender-based violence.
At the end the seminar was concluded with commitments, neither to commit nor become a part of GBV.