Faisalabad:  Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) observed International Women's Day under the UN theme of “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality” and the Minority Women issues. This year the minority women and youth belonging to different fields of lives specifically participated in the event at Vision Hall, Faisalabad.

The participants shared their challenges and recommendations to fill the gaps between the groups/individuals having access to internet/technology and those have not particularly in the stereotype's societies and in developing countries. The women and girls are the main victims who face hurdles to afford technology and internet access, speakers addressed.  

Naveed Walter President Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) urged government to make sure the free and easier access of women and girls to internet and technology that could minimize the repercussions of the digital gender gap. He said the obstacles in digital access exacerbates the economic and social inequalities as well.

Naveed Walter President HRFP demands for the urgent actions against abductions, forced conversions and forced marriages of minority girls, child marriages, sexual abuses and theft allegations on domestic workers, the honor killing, rapes and acid attacks on women. The effective legislation and implementation should be ensured for protection and justice and the facilitators should also be treated strictly, he added.

Sadaf Samreen, Nida Naeem, Asma Kanwal, Parveen Gulzar, Perveen Yaqoob and Saher Naqash highlighted the need of protections measures, the rights of women and girls in digital domains and tackling the gender-based harassments. Establishing networking of link minded and to be stay connected through social media and digitally to share and resolves the issues of discriminations and harassments, speakers added. The trainings and awareness should be conducted for youth and women, the discriminatory laws & practices should be removed on immediate bases, speakers added further.

Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) raised through recommendations on Women’s Day event to remove the gender-based discrimination and all kind of biases. The online and physical safeguarding and inclusion of women and girls particularly belonging to religious minorities and living in villages/remote areas should be ensured. The derogatory remarks and biased contents in curriculum and during teaching, the harassment and discrimination must be ended. To make sure the easier common women participation in political processes and in the coming elections particularly the minority women visibility through main streaming, HRFP demands.

Yaqoob Masih, Manzoor Anthony and Badal Masih also addressed. Shadman John shared through speaking and brochures that if someone victimized, they could call through HRFP’s REAT Helpline (toll free number 0800-09494) at HRFP office for immediate assistance.