Ehsaas has joined forces with National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) to start the fight against gender-based violence. The event titled ‘Humein Ehsaas Hai Khwateen Ka” was organized by Ehsaas on Friday to observe sixteen days of activism against gender-based violence. The event was co-organized by NCSW and Quaid -e-Azam University.
In Pakistan, 32% of women have suffered physical violence, and 40% of ever-married women have personally encountered spousal abuse at some point in their lives. These statistical data, regrettably, do not appropriately reflect the total scope of the problem. One in every two Pakistani women who have suffered violence never tried to get help or told anyone about it.
The main purpose of the event organized by NCSW and Ehsaas is to voice concerns regarding the increasing cases of gender-based violence. The event was directed by Senator Dr. Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation. “Gender-based violence is not tolerable at any level,” Dr. Sania said. She stated that the current administration was entirely devoted to women’s empowerment.
Furthermore, she also added that Ehsaas 50% plus rule was fully incorporated in all Ehsaas programs namely Ehsaas cash transfers, Ehsaas undergraduate scholarships, Ehsaas interest-free loans, and Ehsaas Amdan asset transfers, to guarantee continuous women empowerment. Through its conditional cash transfer (CCT) Programmes, Ehsaas School Stipends, and Ehsaas Nashonuma. Ehsaas is the only program in the world that provides a greater stipend for girls than for boys.
In addition, Dr. Sania also praised NCSW and Ehsaas’ collaboration. She said that she is hoping that the event will lead to a long-term and significant women empowerment cooperation in the future. Nilofar Bakhtiar, Chairperson NCSW, voiced her delight at returning to Quaid-e-Azam University, where she studied during her academic career. She gives a brief history of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and described how this type of violence is the world’s least prosecuted crime.
