MINGORA: A daylong training session was organised at the University of Swat on Tuesday to raise awareness about violence against women.

The session titled ‘recognising gender-based violence in our communities, causes and consequences’ was organised Uks Research Centre in collaboration with the Awaz Response Fund, a DFID-funded project, at the department of media communications studies.

The speakers and trainers in their interactive sessions with the participants highlighted the various forms of violence against women in the society and their causes. “Incidence of violence against women is rampant in rural areas where lack of awareness, women education and lack of implementation of laws are the major factors behind the menace,” said a human rights activist. He said there were several international conventions and treaties for women rights in addition to special laws and bills in Pakistan, but due to poor governance and lack of interest in implementing these laws violence against women could not be controlled.

Training session organised at Swat varsity to sensitise people to gender-based violence

On the media coverage about violence against women, training coordinator Niaz Ahmad Khan said many reporters did not try to comprehend the nature of gender-based news stories and mixed up elements of sensationalism in their stories.

“Journalists are considered eyes and ears of the society and they must balance their stories by refraining from taking sides,” he said, adding journalists often used negative terms for women in such stories.

Amjad Ali Sahab, a representative of Uks Research Centre at the varsity, said the objective of the session was to raise awareness about gender equality, causes of violence and related laws.

The session also discussed the violence being inflicted on women in the form of draconian customs. “Today’s session is aimed at awakening the students, particularly girls students, to mobilise the society and take a firm guard against the practice of such customs and their adverse impact on the victims,” Mr Sahab said.

Meanwhile, students and teachers of the University of Swat termed the event highly useful in helping to bring down gender-based-violence in the society. “I am happy to attend the workshop, and from here on, I will take practical steps to discourage anti-social customs prevailing in our society,” said Nizakat Ali, a student of media communication studies.

Another student Waqas Saleem said such informative sessions must be organised regularly, ‘where not only we learnt about forms and causes of violence but also got first-hand information about the related laws to curb such crimes,” he said.

Khalid Khan, head of the media and communication studies, appreciated the event and said his department would welcome such events in future.

Published in Dawn November 9th, 2016