HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad chapter of the Women Action Forum celebrated a decade (2008-2018) of its struggle at a colourful programme at Sindh Museum late on Saturday night.

The programme was attended by a large number of women as well as men who had come from different parts of the province and the country to join celebrations on 10 years of struggle and resistance.

WAF leaders Arfana Mallah and Amar Sindhu welcomed guests and recounted the issues taken up by WAF’s Hyderabad chapter. They paid tribute to human rights champions Asma Jahangir, Zahida Shaikh and Madeeha Gauher and presented Ajraks presented to the participating guests.

Nighat Saeed from WAF Lahore chapter shed light on history of WAF and praised work of its Hyderabad chapter.

Nazish Brohi and Uzma from WAF Karachi chapter talked about violence against women. Hoor Palijo who represented Sindhayni Tehreek shared memories of Zahida Shaikh and struggle of WAF as well as resistance by women.

The participants raised slogans of ‘long live brave women’ and sang famous songs of women’s emancipation. Noor Bano from K.N. Shah along with her delegation talked about lady health workers’ problems and their ongoing struggle.

A Bheel women, her daughter and family members from Chahchhro, Thar, shared painful memories of rape and resistance. Mother and sister of Shazia Marri who was attacked with an axe for bearing a baby girl also expressed their feelings.

The audience was informed that WAF’s decade long struggle was a long history of issues and suffering during which the forum staged demonstrations, held seminars, workshops, launched public awareness campaigns, raised issues of discriminatory legislation against women, violence against women, domestic violence, honour killing, sexual harassment, harassment at workplace, kidnapping, jirga and killing of women.

WAF Hyderabad activists who had visited areas of Larkana, Shahdadkot, Sukkur, Khairpur, Sanghar and other areas to raise voice for women and against extremism and blasphemy, including Hassen, Naseem, Rehana, Zakiya, Rozina and Najma shared with the audience details of the visits and their work.

Gulbadan, Ruksana, Rubina Abro and Samina Abro who had arrived from Larkana read out poetry on the theme of women’s emancipation.

WAF thanked R.K. Soomro of PPP, Sindh Graduate Association, Radha Bheel, Shahida Memon advocate from Shikarpur, home-based workers, women democratic front, students, lawyers and journalists who participated in the programme, which was followed by music and dance.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2018