HBWWF Hosts Seminar on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
• Celebration of women’s role in resisting authoritarianism and advocating for democracy and equality
• Speakers call for the repeal of discriminatory laws and the establishment of anti-harassment bodies in workplaces
On Sunday, speakers at a seminar organized by the Home-Based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF) called for the repeal of all laws that discriminate against women and the implementation of legal measures to end all forms of violence against women.
The seminar, titled ‘Women’s Resistance Knows No Borders’, was held at the Karachi Press Club to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The event was chaired by Asad Iqbal Butt, Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), and was attended by a wide range of political, social, and rights activists.
Speakers also called for the establishment of anti-harassment committees in workplaces, the immediate recovery of missing persons, the restoration of democratic freedoms, including freedom of expression, and the ratification of ILO Convention 190 by Pakistan.
The participants paid tribute to the “Butterfly Sisters” from the Dominican Republic, Patria, Minerva, and Maria Teresa Mirabal, whose fight against dictatorship has been commemorated globally on November 25 each year. Zehra Khan of HBWWF highlighted how the sisters became icons of democratic freedom and women’s empowerment, sacrificing their lives for their cause. She noted that the issues of state oppression, authoritarian governance, and misogyny they fought against still persist globally, including in Pakistan.
Khan pointed out that women workers, especially in factories, often face harassment, and systemic gender discrimination remains prevalent in political, social, and economic spheres.
Nasir Mansoor from the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) discussed the continued prevalence of harassment, citing alarming statistics such as 85% of women workers experiencing workplace harassment, 90% of domestic workers facing harassment, and 28% of women between 14 and 49 facing physical violence. He stressed that despite the workplace harassment law passed in 2010, societal norms and judicial delays have rendered justice almost unattainable. He also highlighted the impact of enforced disappearances on women, with over 8,000 families affected.
Mansoor also recognized the role of women in resisting authoritarianism and advocating for democracy and equality, mentioning figures like Fatima Jinnah, Benazir Bhutto, Asma Jahangir, and contemporary activists such as Dr. Mahrang Baloch and Sammi Baloch.
Activist Sorath Lohar spoke about the ongoing struggle for rights and resources, while Sammi Baloch of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee shared the plight of families affected by enforced disappearances.
HRCP Chairman Asad Iqbal Butt emphasized the importance of breaking free from feudal mindsets and encouraging young leadership in the resistance movement.
Other notable speakers included journalist and activist Mehnaz Rahman, KPC President Saeed Sarbazi, and academic Dr. Asghar Ali Dashti.
