RAWALPINDI, March 8: Speakers at programmes held in connection with the International Women Day in the garrison city and adjoining areas on Friday highlighted the different issues faced by women and steps to ensure they got their rights without any hindrance.

An exhibition of artworks titled ‘Art for a cause - merging generational perspective’ was organised at the Rawalpindi Art Council.

Works of senior artists Mansoor Rahi, Hajra Mansoor, Raja Changez Sultan, Nsir Malik, Aliya Mirza, Raja Najamul Hassan, Mir Wais, Zainab Nawaz were put on the display along with those by students of the Foundation University.

The event was inaugurated by Cecilie Landsverk, Ambassador of Norway, and rights activist Tahira Abdullah.

The works of Mir Waiz, Aliya Mirza and Nsir Malik drew special attention of the art lovers. Mir Waiz depicted the misery and suffering of women in Afghanistan.

Aliya's 10 feminist paintings, including ‘missing women’, buried alive’, ‘resistance’ and ‘how many walls’ depicted discrimination and violence faced by women.

The ambassador was impressed by diversity of the artworks by both students and senior artists.

She reiterated her commitment to supporting the cultural activities in Pakistan.Tahira Abdullah encouraged the young art students to learn how to depict the situation of women in Pakistan, particularly reflecting ‘violence against women’.

The artworks of the 12 students had the theme of ‘Death and soul’.  The students depicted the suffering of women and the poor.

Paintings displayed at the Malala Yousufzai corner portrayed her courage.

CHAKWAL: Speakers at a ceremony organised by Centre for Rural Development and Trust for Information and Knowledge stressed the need for overhauling the educational syllabus so that a balanced society could be created where women enjoyed their due rights.

The speakers, including Prof Chaudhry Liaquat Ali Khan, said woman in prehistoric time was not only the head of her family but also led troops in wars.

“How did the woman lose her role and how can she get it revived. The revival of the woman role does not mean that society should again be moulded as matriarchal one.

Rather, we would have to create a balanced society by ending male chauvinism,” they added.  They said proper education can resolve the issues faced by women.

A woman starts facing violence at the time of her birth as the birth of a daughter is not encouraged in our society. “The woman could not get her due role unless the difference between a son and a daughter is removed,” they remarked.

MURREE: A walk was organised by teachers and students of Women Vocational College in connection with the women day. Speakers on the occasion said Islam has given a respectable and noble status to women as a mother, sister, daughter and wife. It is our religious and moral duty to give every right and respect to women.

They said the government should consider the importance of women and give them every right equal to men like a conducive environment at the workplace and enforcement of various laws.

ISLAMABAD: Speakers at the second ‘national conference on gender and media’ organised by White Ribbon Campaign Pakistan highlighted the commendable efforts by various mediapersons for ensuring gender balanced perspectives, portrayals and analyses etc.

Movie screened

The Peace Education and Development Foundation in collaboration with Global Human Rights Defense screened a movie on the efforts of the great women who fought for their civil rights in 1910s.