MIRPUR: (Parliament Times) Women of Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit/Baltistan vowed to continue collective efforts to overcome challenges faced by them due to patriarchal socio-cultural setup and conflict.
“If women are provided such spaces where they can connect with other women and get an insight into the larger issues and challenges faced by them, they can build collective effort to advocate for the betterment of all segments of women in AJK as well as GB, ” they said at a conclusion of three days workshop on Leadership Training for Women hosted by renowned Kashmir NGO – the Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR) that concluded at the federal capital lateMonday. Around 30 active women participated from all districts of Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) including four female participants from Gilgit Baltistan(GB) attended.
A KIIR spokespersons later told this Correspondent Tuesday that main objective of the training was to provide a common platform to the women of AJK and GB where they can not only identify the issues and challenges which they are facing but also build capacities to take up lead roles for solving their issues and stand up for other marginalized womenfolk who do not get chance to raise their voices. The aim was also to provide participants an opportunity to develop an understanding about the larger social, economic and the political scenario of the state and make effective use of the spaces available to them for the betterment of women. The thrust areas of the training workshop were gender roles and responsibilities, Leadership & advocacy, networking, and the governance structure of AJK and GB, he added.
It is pertinent to mention that the event marked the participation of women from all ten districts of AJK and GB having diverse professional backgrounds and experience in the social sector. The participants termed the workshop as a “Life changer†event for them and said that it was a rare and unique opportunity to interact and connect with such a diverse group of women coming from different regions especially from Gilgit Baltistan. The participants were of opinion that women in developing countries face multiple challenges but in conflict ridden state, the challenges get multiplied due to cemented patriarchal socio-cultural setup.
The concluding ceremony was attended by MLA Ms.Naseema wani,Ms.Farzaza Yaqoob Ex.Minister Social Welfare and Women Development, Mr.ErshadMehmud Senior Analyst and renowned Journalist, SardarAmjadYousaf Khan-Executive Director KIIR.
While giving final remarks, the organizer of the training Ms.AtiaAnwer Zoon- KIIR Director Women Wing said that “It is my dream to see the women of AJK and GB socially, economically and politically empowered and be treated as an asset not a burden.â€
ErshadMehmud appreciated the initiatives made by KIIR and expressed hope that KIIR would continue to provide such platforms to women in future.
Ms.Farzana who also spoke on the occasion said that women have a 50% share of population, and it is extremely important that they are given enough opportunities to contribute and opined that that this event would prove a milestone in this regard. She urged KIIR to continue with further trainings in order to engage more women.
MLA Wani impressed that women should be given their due share not just in politics but in every sphere of life and be made economically and politically empowered to perform equal and effective roles. While expressing satisfaction a good number of AJK and GB women are educated, she said that it is important to tap their potential to the maximum.
SardarAmjadYousaf-executive director KIIR while giving his concluding remarks said that Kashmir Institute of International Relations will continue to organize trainings and workshops for building the capacities of women and will continue efforts for enhancing spaces for women in social, economic and political arenas.
