KARACHI: Various commissions on the status of women highlighted inclusive role of the concerned departments to end violence against women at a panel discussion titled “Role of Women Commissions in Ending Violence against Women” to commemorate 16 days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence organised by Commission on the Status of Women in Karachi. The event aimed to highlight the role of Sindh Commission on the Status of Women and relevant government department to end violence against women. UN Women Programme Lead Aisha Mukhtar in her opening remakes congratulated on the establishment of the commission. She highlighted the role of UN Women to end violence against women. She offered support in future in order to strengthen women commissions. Sindh Commission on the Status of Women Chairperson Nuzhat Shireen revealed that the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women has prioritised the issues related to women. Violence against women is on their priority agenda, she said. The commission members are well oriented and capable to tackle the issue of violence against women in the province, she said. Sindh Human Rights Commission Chairperson Majida Rizvi said that the laws under which the commission has been established need to be reviewed in order to make the commission stronger. She extended her support to women commissions and said that women rights are human rights. She also appreciated the Women Development Department which had allocated funds for the establishment of the commission. During a panel discussion, Kausar S Khan, a renowned women rights activist and researcher, shared that the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) conducted research on gender-based violence (GBV). She said that she was ready to support women commission whenever required. Punjab Commission on the Status of Women Chairperson Fouzia Waqar congratulated Sindh for the establishment of the commission. She shared that Punjab has trained 60,000 nikkah khawan and local government staff to combat violence against women. She also shared that the commission was fully supported by the Punjab government. National Commission on Human Rights member Anis Haroon highlighted that violence against women should be considered crime against the state. She said the commissions are autonomous bodies and should be free from all political pressures. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Commission on the Status of Women Chairperson Neelam Toor disclosed that they have set up district committees in 23 districts of the province. She said these committees are playing their active role regarding GBV cases, but the commission was not playing its role efficiently due to lack of budgets allocated by the federal government. Justice Shaqi Usmani offered free legal support to the commission to examine and review laws. He suggested establishing committees at district level to raise awareness among masses at grassroots level. Amar Sindhu, a writer, educationist and women rights activist, was of the view that a big challenge to end violence against women was the strong jirga system in Sindh. He said there is lot to be done for the sensitisation of masses. Aurat Foundation Resident Director Mahnaz Rahman acknowledged the struggle of organisations for the establishment of women commissions. She suggested establishing one-window service for GBV survivors in provinces. Women Development Department Secretary Haroon Ahmed Khan added that they will continue their support in order to make commissions independent and autonomous. Women Commission members including Raheema Panhwar, Malka Khan, Afiya Zia, Shireen Khan and Farhat Parveen also spoke at the event. A large number of civil society members attended the event. Published in Daily Times, December 11th 2017.