ISLAMABAD, March 7: Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on Sunday said that women were being subjected to varying degrees of discrimination and violence all over the world.

In her message issued by the PPP media cell here on the eve of International Women's Day being observed on Monday, Ms Bhutto said, "the celebrations today mark a realization that women everywhere are awakening. In my own country ... my election twice as prime minister is a demonstration of this assertiveness and awakening".

The PPP chairperson said, women the world over have been subjected to varying degrees of discrimination, exploitation and violence. And this has been largely due to the backwardness of women in almost all societies.