KARACHI, April 30: A convention of fisherwomen has urged the government to take effective measures for their socio-economic rights and bring an end to the present unjust system. Expressing concern over the plight of fisherwomen, speakers at the convention observed that for years, fisherwomen had been subjected to social oppression and abject poverty with a view to keeping them under the domination of influential people, who could exploit them as cheap labour.

The speakers said although the fisherwomen had been playing an active role in the domestic, social and economic life of community, they had been treated as ‘slaves’ and had never been accorded their due status.

The speakers urged fisherwomen across the country to get united and wage a struggle for the restoration of their rights.

Entitled ‘Mahigir Aurat Convention’, the moot was organized by the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum at Ibrahim Haidri, and attended by representatives of fishermen community and NGOs across the country. Prominent among those who attended the moot were Tahira Ali of the PFF’s women wing, Anis Haroon of the Aurat Foundation, Zahida Sheikh, Nafisa Shah and Sassui Palijo.