KARACHI: APPNA Institute of Public Health, Jinnah Sindh Medical University organised an awareness activity on the theme of “Femicide” to support the ongoing international campaign "16 Days of Activism" to prevent gender-based violence.
Through seven stalls set up by the students of Masters of Science in Public Health, inhumane incidents like physical violence, mental pressure, psychological abuse, verbal abuse, harassment, acid attacks, honor killings and violence against women were highlighted in order to raise a voice against such issues. The role of the ombudsman and legal aspects were also discussed, while a commitment was also made to continue the struggle for the end of violence.
Professor Amjad Siraj Memon, Vice Chancellor of Jinnah Sindh Medical University, said that a society can never progress if women are not protected. Unfortunately, incidents of violence are common in Pakistan and women are pressured to remain silent because the family will be stigmatized if the case is reported, he said.
"We as a society need to reform ourselves and give women the respect and rights that our religion allows us", he added.
The event was inaugurated by Dr Azam Khan, JSMU Registrar, who visited all the stalls and highly commended the efforts made by the MSPH students and the event organizers including Dr Naushaba Khatoon Director AIPH, Amna Rehana Siddiqui Chairperson AIPH, Dr Aroosa Nadeem Lecturer AIPH and members of the AIPH administration.
The stalls were also visited by many faculty members and students from JSMU, who appreciated the event greatly.
Prominent lawyers working on Gender Based Violence (GBV) like Shagufta Burney from Ansar Burney Trust, Advocate Muhammad Nawaz Dahri from MN Dahri and Associates and representatives of the Provincial Ombudsmen, Sindh gave valuable information on the topic to the visitors.