Pakistan Council for Social Welfare & Human Rights CC (PCSW&HR) and Pakistan Hairdressers and Beauty Parlours Association jointly organized a Women’s Convention on Democracy under the women empowerment project at Sialkot (Punjab Province) on 16th April 2014. Hundreds of women from different fields participated in the convention.
Chairman Pakistan Council for Social Welfare & Human Rights Mr. Muhammad Ijaz Noori was chief guest at the convention. While addressing the crowd, the chief guest said that Pakistan was established from democratic struggles & efforts. Now, he said, a strong democracy is guaranteed to stabilize and develop Pakistan. Due to undemocratic attitudes of politicians and the elimination of democracy by the Dictators Generals, Pakistan has already suffered a great loss as we have lost East Pakistan.
He said that, from Mohtrama Fatima Jinnah to Benazir Bhutto, women have done a lot to strengthen the democracy here in Pakistan as beacons of light in Pakistani history.
He added, “I believe that equitable participation of women in politics and government is essential to building and sustaining democracy. Democracy cannot truly deliver for all of its citizens if half of the population remains underrepresented in the political arena.”
He further said that we cannot protect women’s rights by providing specific seats only in the parliament: “Now is the hour that we should give the important role to women at all stages if we have to strengthen and flourish a real democracy in Pakistan. Direct participation of women in electoral process may make Pakistan stronger.”
He also said that our present electoral system does not protect minorities and women’s rights and there is need to make necessary amendments in this system so that minorities and women may enjoy the benefits of democracy. He urged the participants to extend their abilities to give an equal playing field to females from local religious and ethnic minorities and bring them to the mainstream of society in order to protect their fundamental human and civil rights.
Mr. Muhammad Ijaz Noori further said that women can play a vital role in protecting the youth from the mindset of extremism and terrorism because mothers are a good source of education. He also said that women’s empowerment is a matter of key concern in national and international policymaking and activities of social life.
“Nations cannot achieve their development goals if their women are discriminated against. Women’s empowerment is in fact necessary condition for socio-economic development of a country.”
He urged that public and private sectors must initiate the projects for the empowerment of women. Provincial representatives of Pakistan Hair Dressers and Beauty Parlours Association Mr. Aman Ullah, Raja Shahkeel Anjum, Muhammad Hanif Januja, Madam Amina, Madam Aneela and others also addressed the convention. Souvenirs and certificates were awarded to women for their extraordinary social services.
