February 2020

WOMEN

NEWS COVERAGE PERIOD FROM FEB 24 TO MAR 01, 2020

CM’S ADVISER ASKS VC ABOUT STEPS TAKEN AGAINST WOMEN’S HARASSMENT

From the Newspaper February 25, 2020

JAMSHORO: Adviser to Sindh chief minister on human rights Veerji Kolhi met Sindh University’s Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Fateh Mohammad Burfat on Monday and enquired about the measures the university had taken to provide protection to women in the wake of complaints by a number of students that they were being harassed.

Dr Burfat informed the adviser that recently a number of girl students of Institute of Art and Design, Department of Sociology and Department of Freshwater Biology and Fisheries had complained about being harassed and their complaints were dealt with “seriousness” and “urgency” involving departmental inquiries, disciplinary action and police intervention, according to an official handout.

He said the university had undertaken special measures to ensure foolproof protection to girl students, women faculty and employees on the campus. “We have not only established a high-powered anti-harassment cell at our administration block but have also formed anti-harassment committees comprising cross-gender faculty at all departments and institutes. In addition, the university regularly organises walks and talks to create awareness about making the SU the safest place for women,” said the VC.

He said that contact numbers of heads and members of anti-harassment cell and committees had been widely publicised through social media and notice boards to help students, teachers and employees have easy access to the officials concerned if and when needed.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2020

https://www.dawn.com/news/1536519/cms-adviser-asks-vc-about-steps-taken-against-womens-harassment

NEWS COVERAGE PERIOD FROM FEB 17 TO FEB 23, 2020

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT ‘KEY TO PROGRESS’

February 21, 2020

ISLAMABAD. Experts attending the second Human Capital Summit in the federal capital on Thursday stressed the need for Pakistan to invest in girls’ education and women’s economic empowerment to boost the national economy.

The Summit, co-hosted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the World Bank Pakistan, highlighted the progress being made in the country to enable girls to excel in schools, and women to thrive in the workplaces.

SAPM on Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar told the participants that the government’s Ehsaas Programme had “a very serious intent to drive forward the agenda” of women empowerment in the country.

“Ehsaas stringently follows 50% rule across the board for women inclusion in all Ehsaas initiatives, including interest-free loans, scholarships and asset transfers.”

https://epaper.tribune.com.pk/DisplayDetails.aspx?ENI_ID=11202002210064&EN_ID=11202002210022&EMID=11202002210009

NEWS COVERAGE PERIOD FROM FEB 03 TO FEB 09, 2020

13 JIRGA MEMBERS BOOKED IN SIREN VALLEY VANI CASE

The Newspaper’s Correspondent February 07, 2020

MANSEHRA: Shinkiari police have booked 13 members of a jirga, including a cleric, which decreed wedding of a seven-year-old girl with a man to settle a feud that started after uncle of the former captured a picture of the latter’s aunt in Bari Bag area of Siren valley last year.

“We have arrested four jirga members and raids are underway for arrest of nine others, including a cleric who solemnised the wedlock of minor girl with a man of rival party,” SHO Shinkiari police station Amir Khan told mediapersons by phone on Thursday.

He said that the police took action after receiving information from the local people and arrested jirga members, including Taj Mohammad, Mohammad Javed, Malik Aman and Shahjehan.

“We have also seized the wedlock papers and the register on which it was registered by a local registrar,” said Mr Amir.

Mohammad Nazeer told mediapersons that his brother, Mohammad Asif, had mistakenly captured photo of a local woman through his mobile camera, which sparked the tension between his and the woman’s family.

He said that a jirga was summoned which declared his daughter, 7, vani and also received Rs200,000 as fine under the local customs being practised in Siren valleys since long.

“The jirga not only solemnised wedlock of my minor daughter with Mohammad Rizwan, nephew of the woman whose picture was taken, but also fined us that my father paid in my absence,” said Mr Nazeer.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2020

https://www.dawn.com/news/1532910/13-jirga-members-booked-in-siren-valley-vani-case