Awareness Session on Gender-based Violence held at UO

Okara (UNP / Sheikh Nadeem Sheraz)
The issues, challenges and solutions of gender-based violence were discussed in an awareness session, organized by the Department of Media & Communication Studies (DMCS) at the University of Okara. The speakers including distinguished lawyer, Abdullah Malik, Coordinator of Mumkin, a non-governmental organization, Ambreen Fatima, Assistant Professor at Lahore Leads University, Imran Saleem, In-Charge DMCS, Dr Zahid Bilal and Assistant Professor at DMCS, Dr Sobia Abid, discussed various issues including child labor, early marriages, forced marriages and domestic violence.
In the inaugural note of the session, Dr Zahid welcomed and guests and said thanked the Vice Chancellor, Prof Dr Muhammad Zakria Zakar, for promoting the culture of dialogues and debates at the university.
Dr Sobia, in her talk, argued, “Child labor is a serious issue in our society and it is hampering the formal education of both the genders and same is the case with early marriages.”
Abdullah Malik discussed the importance of the implementation of pro-women laws by saying, “There should be no compensation for gender-based violence. There is a dire need of legislation and implementation of laws. Moreover, we should learn to accept and tolerate others.”
Ambreen Fatima told, “Both the genders are equally entitled for basic human rights but women in our society are facing a range of financial, educational & healthcare disparities.”
Imran Saleem said, “All stakeholders of the society should work together for the promotion of women rights for the betterment of society. We should accommodate women in domestic decisions.”
At the end of the session, shields were presented to the guest speakers.