Multan
A walk was conducted in which many of women with disabilities participated with a zeal and zest. The people from all walks of life also admired this segment of the activity and encouraged National Forum of Women with disabilities on participation and efforts regarding the mainstreaming of women with disabilities.
Moreover, a special recommendation was accepted unanimously regarding the accessibility code to be included in constitutional setting and sent to the government of Punjab that it should be given a unique position in future action plan.
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence is an international campaign that starts on 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and ends on 10 December, Human Rights Day. The campaign hopes to raise awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international level. This year’s theme is“Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Gender-Based Violence!
The Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) had organized women Convention on this occasion at Multan Arts Council, in which National Forum of Women with disabilities participated with an inspirational sprit. The issue of disability is gaining more and more importance all over the world. Women with disabilities are disadvantaged in several key areas when compared with other women, men with disabilities, and the society as a whole. These women face a triple handicap and discrimination due to their disability, gender and developing world status.
Gender-based assumptions and expectations generally place women with disabilities at a disadvantage with respect to substantive enjoyment of rights, such as freedom to act and to be recognized as autonomous, to participate fully in economic, social and political development, and to make decisions concerning their circumstances and conditions. National Forum of Women with Disabilities participated in the convention, Shahina, Tehmina, naseebbabi, Saba represent the women with disabilities with their slogans.
banners “Invisible Women: Violence against Women with Disabilities”, Speak out for girl with Disabilities’ Rights,Women with disabilities Agent of Change, Equality &Inclusion, and Achieving Equality for the future we want. Ms. Zahida Hameed Qureshi (National Forum of women with Disabilities) shared the major barrier to employment and other socio-economic benefits for Women with Disabilities in our society continues to be attitudinal barriers; stereotypical thinking and assumption about what women with disabilities can and can’t do. She stressed that the National Forum of women with Disabilities is seriously moving forward to the destination of social inclusion of women with disabilities not only an individual level but also on the other forums such as district government, provincial government, and the government of Pakistan. The basic purpose of the efforts is to build the structure of women with disabilities empowerment on some strong foundations and promote their acceptance in strong manners.
At the end of the activity, a walk was conducted in which many of women with disabilities participated with a zeal and zest. The people from all walks of life also admired this segment of the activity and encouraged National Forum of Women with disabilities on participation and efforts regarding the mainstreaming of women with disabilities. Moreover, a special recommendation was accepted unanimously regarding the accessibility code to be included in constitutional setting and sent to the government of Punjab that it should be given a unique position in future action plan.
Hyderabad
International Day of persons with disability was celebrated on December 3rd , organized by UTHAN & National Forum of women with disabilities and facilitated by Miss Parveen Rajput.
Disability is not anyillness, it is a continues pain which is faced by a person in his whole life, what is disability?it is only better expressed by a person with disability. This day celebrated worldwide everywhere, to sensitized people that person with disability are also part of the society, they have equal rights to live with honor& proudness , but in some countries including Pakistan people think that person with disability is only a burden including their families.Disability is not an any mental problem, but its minor physical impairment in a normal person they can do anything properly, sometimes much better than physically fit person.SPO organized & celebrate international day of person with disability, I am glad to be part of this event,though this was not the first time that I participated in such event.
My first experience was in Handicap International, in which I worked as a data entry operator. There I learned and became aware of such day. Handicap taught me about myself, to accept who I am and I am not below anyone, I can be whoever I am and can do whatever I want. That first experience had one unique thing that from the host of the event to the participants, every other person was Person with Disability!
Now let’s talk about my 2nd experience, this event gave me strength to achieve my goals and accept m self, and also I met so many new people and focal people of different organizations. It was a new and fresh experience which gave me a chance to hear different point of view on person with disability from people who are different than me. We started the meeting with the recitation of the holy Quran. Then moved on to introduction and then we shared our point of view about the problems, society behaviors on person with disability. Apart from that a person with disability cannot have any proper job just because of some little physical impairment, they feel we are not able for their company or organization.
Even Government has a rule to give 2% of the jobs to persons with disability. But it’s just a rule in the rule book with no implement on it. Moreover, lack of accessibility is the main problem for persons with disability. Accessibility is the main source through which person with disability can access anywhere without depending on anyone. It also helps in building a person’s self confidence. Without accessibility, even going to a restaurant is embarrassing because of the look that people give, it feels like we are a different creature. Then at last we discussed about when a person with disability tries to find a job, from organizations to government, nothing works because they have no place for us, they think that because we are a bit disable we cannot work or even move.
Nobody hears our call. therefore we all decided to join hands and be our voice. Miss Parveen, the host of the event, she herself is person with disability and gave us courage and hope that team work is important and through team work we can achieve our goals of having our own organization. At last we just hope to grab people’s attention on this sensitive issue not only give attention to this but also do something practically for the development of person with disability and also give some opportunities to persons with disability so that we can prove ourselves that we are also important, useful and prestigious part of this society. We request higher authorities to have a look, hear and focus on this issue and help us be a normal person in this society And help us to develop our org UTHAN for practical work for persons with disability.
