ISLAMABAD, Feb 25: Representatives of various NGOs gathered on the premises of Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) here on Wednesday, condemned the acts of violence against women and children.

The protest meeting, which was attended by some 20 persons was held to condemn the brutal murder of two minor girls in Karachi.

Unlike the government bodies adamant at not acknowledging their redundant policies or of being self-critical, the NGO representatives were critical of the continuing practice of "issuing tons of press releases" with little effect on the socio- political landscape.

However, the speakers, who suggested to do away with the policy of "issuing tons of press releases" went a little ahead by suggesting writing of letters to the president, the prime minister and the other relevant officials to condemn the murder of the girls.

The representatives of the civil society sat around the designer glass top table and were distributed the copies of a news report for which the reporters had toiled in the hot and humid climate of Karachi to dig out the facts about the horrific murder, an abuse of two girls aged 5 and 6.

As the participants debated the contents of the press release to be issued and how to make the wording of the press release "more strong," a participant said, "we need drastic action. These are much too superficial steps."

The NGO activists acknowledged their role as "reactive" to press reports rather than being proactive. Emphasizing the desire for a proactive role by the NGOs, a participant said they were reactive and after a case was reported, the civil society organizations held a few meetings and then wait for a new case to be highlighted to repeat the same practice. The speakers stressed the need for an institutional mechanism to follow-up the cases.

At the same time, the activists wanted the media not to "sensationalise" the reports, as perhaps in their wisdom it does not go well with the digestive system, especially when one is having breakfast and cocktails to see TV images or read news reports, which represent the horrible face of the society. The activists proposed to write articles in the media for advocacy of various issues.

While discussing the root cause of increasing incidents of police brutality, an SDPI participant said there was a need to examine the Police Order, as the checks and balances on the law-enforcement arms of the state were diluted.

During the course of the proceedings, Justice Majida Rizvi, the chairperson of National Commission on the Status of Women, said she would take up the matter of murder of two minor girls with the interior minister officially.

An NGO activist proposed to demand the resignation of the Sindh chief minister, home minister and other relevant authorities for their negligence to let the crime happen. Representative of Aurat Foundation, Women Action Forum, SDPI, Sahil along with other NGO representatives participated in the "protest meeting."