News Desk
Islamabad:
Youth Development Association (YDA), in collaboration with Community Awareness and Participation Council (CAPC), marked International Women’s Day with a program at the Community Development Center in G-8, Islamabad. The event, attended by approximately 80 women and 20 men, focused on addressing women’s issues, advocating for gender equality, and encouraging women to voice their concerns.
The program commenced with a prayer led by a female participant, followed by introductions from Mr. Nadeem Bhatti, President of CAPC, and Mr. Liaqat Masih, Head of Operations at YDA. Both speakers highlighted their organizations’ efforts in promoting women’s rights and empowerment through various initiatives and policies.
Ms. Mehnaz Benjamin emphasized the global significance of International Women’s Day, noting that it serves as a platform to recognize women’s social, economic, cultural, and political contributions while advocating for gender parity. She stressed the need for collective action to accelerate progress toward equality.
Poet Mr. Shahbaz Chohan recited a piece celebrating women’s resilience and commended YDA and CAPC for their commitment to uplifting vulnerable women. Mrs. Veronica Richetson underscored the importance of fostering an inclusive society where women can live with dignity, free from gender-based violence and discrimination. She reiterated that this year’s theme, Accelerating Action, calls for concrete steps to advance gender equality.
Addressing the challenges faced by women in Pakistan, Mrs. Shireen Aslam cited United Nations statistics indicating that only 21% of Pakistani women participate in the workforce, while less than 20% of rural girls are enrolled in secondary education. Additionally, she highlighted the low representation of women in politics, with only 12 directly elected female parliamentarians out of 266 seats in the last election. She called for urgent measures to dismantle societal biases and create opportunities for women and girls.
President CAPC stressed the need to address issues faced by domestic workers, advocating for skill-building initiatives to enhance their economic resilience. He reaffirmed CAPC and YDA’s commitment to supporting women’s empowerment through ongoing programs.
The event concluded with a special recognition ceremony, where domestic workers, skill trainers, and trainees were invited on stage and applauded for their contributions.