Brussels:(Parliament Times) The two-day international conference that concluded here on Saturday made a passionate appeal to international community especially to European Union to take serious notice of the severe miseries of women in Indian held territory of Jammu and Kashmir.The statement issued at the end of two-day said “Women and children are most affected victims of the hostile situation of IHK and it is duty of international community to decrease their hardships by playing an effective role for right of self-determination of people of Jammu and Kashmirâ€. Expressing grave concerns over the situation of women in the troubled territory, the statement asked the international organizations working for rights of women to pay immediate attention on the situation because woman in the valley were facing miseries as a mother, a sister, a wife and a daughter. “Many of the women lost their husbands and many lost their fathers and brothersâ€, the statement said. Condemning the ban on social media in IHK the participants of the conference said, “India wants to suppress voice of the Kashmiris. International community which believes in freedom of expression should stop India from imposing restrictions on social media which is an important tool in freedom of expression and freedom of speechâ€.
It may be recalled here that the two-day International Conference on role of Kashmiri women titled; “Educating Women for Peace and Democracy in South Asian Prospective†was held at European Parliament. The event was organized by Kashmir Council-EU in collaboration with Friends of Kashmir Group based in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.
First day of the international conference was attended and addressed by a number of parliamentarians, human rights activists, experts and intellectuals from different countries. The second day of the event was contained a workshop on the role of women specially in educating them for peace and democracy. Member of European parliament Ms Julie Ward presented her suggestions during the workshop. Professor Agnieszka Kuszewska of University Social Psychology of Poland, Dr Agnieszka Nitza of University of Collegium Civitas Warsaw, Chairman Kashmir Council EU Mr Ali Raza Syed, Ms Khaula Siddiqi from Columbia Business School Canada, Ms Sadia Mir from the University of Westminster, UK, Ms Ifra Bukhari from University of Sheffield UK were among the speakers of the conference. MEPs Sajjad Haider Karim, Amjad Bashir and Raja Afzal Khan welcomed the participants in the EU parliament while Ms Sadia Mir conducted the program.Speaking on the occasion, MEP Sajjad Karim said, “This conference is very timely because Kashmiri women are increasingly under pressure and they are facing true and emotional woundsâ€.MEP Amjad Bashir said, “it would be a great help for raising the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir specially role Kashmiri women in South Asian prospectiveâ€.Talking about education of women in South Asia, host of the vent MEP Afzal Khan said that poverty was the leading reason of the illiteracy among women. Many of the girls do not go to school, it means a large number of girls are deprived of education. He said, not educating women loses potential of the nation.
In her speech of the expert on South Asian Affairs Professor Dr Agnieszka Kuszewska said, “Education and literacy is necessary for woman in order to empower her with new tools for public participation and improving their situationâ€. About Kashmir issue, she said, Kashmir conflict was necessitating arms race and resources investment on arms.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Kashmir Council EU Mr Ali Raza Syed talked about central role of education for peace and democracy in South Asia specially the education to women in India, Pakistan and Kashmir as saying the women suffer the same disempowerment everywhere in the world.He drew attention of the participants towards the women in the conflict areas like Kashmir as saying they not only suffer from the state of violence, chaos and lost social harmony, but also from the emotional pain of losing their loved ones. “They face humiliations, torture, rape and deprivations and they see their sons, brothers, husbands or fathers undergoing worst state repressions. In Kashmir, however, the women are now taking care of newly blinded youth as wellâ€, he added.Mr Ali Raza observed that healthy, educated and dignified women shall ensure the peaceful, educated, democratic South Asia, whose great potential is hostage to India’s stubborn refusal to Kashmiris democratic right to self determination.
He said, “Objective of this event is to highlight the role of women in South Asian prospective specially women living in the conflict zone of Kashmir in order to learn from the experiences of western women in bringing peace and democracy in their regionsâ€. He said, “Women in Indian Held Kashmir are among the people of Kashmir suffering from the severe situation of that region. We believe in peaceful promotion of the rights and freedoms in all parts of the world including Kashmirâ€.
Former EU Ambassador Mr Anthony Crasner told the delegates that European parliament’s report on India- EU relations had no mention of Kashmir. Brussels based Pakistani Intellectual Mr Kenith Roy while quoting Madeline Albright said, “Democracy without women participation is impossibleâ€.Khaula Saddiqui said, “School in Indian held Kashmir are being closed down for the extended periods because of the conflict that also affects economy and create povertyâ€. She gave example of a Kashmiri girl who was molested by Indian army men and resulted uproar killed two Kashmiri boys. She said that young girl students taking on the army in the streets was a sign of improvement females as well. She added that education for the women required a peaceful society.
