The group’s website explains the group’s purpose is “involving men to reduce violation of women’s rights.”  A year ago this month, the group published its gender-sensitive code of ethics at its National Conference on Gender and Media to promote diversity and how women are portrayed in news among other topics.  The code advocates that journalists be “balanced, fair and inclusive of both sexes” in reporting.

According to a press release sent to iMediaEthics, the group gave the awards to journalists at its second annual conference, held in Islamabad on March 8, International Women’s Day.  This is the first time the group has given awards.

“About 100 entries” were filed. White Ribbon Campaign Pakistan’s Omer Aftab told iMediaEthics by email that there was no fee to enter the contest and that “entries were judged based on the Code of Ethics for Gender Sensitive Reporting.”

“The purpose of the media awards was to assess the implementation of WRCP Code of Ethics in media on gender-sensitive reporting,” according to the group’s press release.

White Ribbon Campaign sent iMediaEthics a report on the conference written by its volunteer Halima Khan. According to Khan’s report on the event, attendees included “dignitaries, journalists, activists” and others. Aftab told iMediaEthics by email that in total, 230 attended. Khan’s report explained:

“The awards highlighted, acknowledged and celebrated the commendable efforts by various Pakistani media for providing gender-balanced perspectives, portrayals and analyses. The purpose of the media awards is to assess the implementation of WRCP Code of Ethics in media of gender-sensitive reporting.”

For the most part, women bear with stoicism, traditional male control over every aspect of their bodies, speech and behaviour. According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, it is estimated that a woman is raped every two hours, a gang rape occurs every eight hours, and about 1,000 women die annually as a result of honor killings.
The Senate, this week, passed two private member bills, The Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Bill 2010 and The Prevention of Anti-Women Practices (Criminal Law Amendment) Bill 2008, which prohibits forced marriage, gives women the right to get their share in inheritance and gives severe punishment to criminals physically harming women with corrosive substances.

The Acid Control and Acid Crime Bill makes acid throwers causing disfigurement, liable to 14 years imprisonment with a minimum fine of Rs 1 million. As per Section 498A inserted into the Code, whoever by deceitful or illegal means deprives any woman inheriting any movable or immovable property at the time of opening of succession shall be punished for a term which may extend to 10 years, but not less than five years or with a fine of Rs 1 million or both. The new law would also prohibit forced marriage, punishment being imprisonment of seven years but not less than three years and fine of Rs 0.5 million.

Prevention of Anti-Women Practices Act 2011 remained stuck for three years, first in various National Assembly committees and then the house itself so the fact that it has finally been passed is definitely a milestone. But the question is will these bills really be implemented practically? In a society where feudal lords, influential ministers & senators advocate killings, where tradition is not allowed to be questioned, will women in Pakistan have access to a fair judiciary, which will ensure their protection and rights to live as an individual?
Violence against women, particularly in the domestic sphere, goes unreported. Approximately 70 per cent to 90 per cent of Pakistani women in rural areas are subjected to domestic violence. Typical violent acts include, murder in the name of ‘ honour’, rape, spousal abuse (including marital rape), acid attacks, and being burned by family members (often labelled an accident by family members).

The tragedy of Pakistan is that it is the influentially empowered people & policy makers that blatantly commit breach, therefore most people are scared to testify or report such cases. The passage of this bill is a mere paper document unless an appropriate plan is devised to implement the same. The rural population needs to be empowered & educated of their rights. No clear strategy for implementing these laws has been provided. These reforms will be of little practical benefit until federal and provincial authorities create mechanisms for compensating and rehabilitating victims of gender-based violence. Authorities must establish immediate benchmarks for assessing the implementation of these new laws.

By Nojeba Haider

ENTRIES ARE INVITED FROM MEDIA PROFESSIONALS
1.    PRINT
Categories: News (750 words or less), Feature stories (between 750-2500 words), Opinions, Investigative reports, Editorials and Columns (between 750 – 2000 words) Languages: English, Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pushto, Balochi, Sariaki, Potohari and any other regional language.
2.    TV AND RADIO
Categories: News, Feature stories, Documentaries, Serials, Radio plays, Talk shows or Issue based programmes. Languages: English, Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pushto, Balochi, Sariaki, Potohari and any other regional language.
3.    WEB
Categories: News, Features, Articles, Blogs and Columns Languages: English and Urdu
4.    PHOTO JOURNALISM
Categories: Photographs and Cartoons Languages: English, Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pushto, Balochi, Sariaki, Potohari and any other regional language.

FORMAT FOR SENDING ENTRIES

• Print entries should contain evidence of publishing and must be accompanied by a legible copy for each           entry. Optionally, the same can be sent electronically on a labelled disc or via email (PDF or Jpeg or Word         document).

• Each broadcast, television and online entry should include three clearly labelled CD or DVD copies, bearing       the name, address and telephone number of the entrant and three transcripts, along with the completed         entry form and a 250 word statement.

• Television and Online entries should also provide 1-3 still images representing each entry (high resolution         JPEG or TIF) and Radio a 30-second highlight of each entry for use at the awards presentation.

• Each Photograph and Cartoon entries should be provided mounted (size 6×8) with details.

CRITERIA FOR SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES

• The entries should highlight one or more of the following:
• Promote public awareness and understanding of gender issues.
• Demonstrate accurate and balanced presentation of events /issues through a gender lens.
• Present consequences of unequal distribution of power and resources between men and women.
• Relationship between community attitudes and gender discrimination.
• Challenge gender stereotypes.
• Contribute to public benefit such as influencing policy or legislative change regarding issues related to               women’s rights /gender issues.
• Raise awareness of successes of community projects that seek to reduce gender based  violence / discrimination and sex selection.
• Use of sex disaggregated data.
• Explore key social and economic determinants of gender discrimination such as gender roles & relations, and social norms & practices.
• Promote gender equality and respectful relationships.
• Draw on current research on gender based violence and interpret it from a gender balanced perspective.
• Voice the experiences of survivors of gender based violence

TERMS & CONDITIONS

• All entries should have been published/displayed/broadcasted or televised between 1st October 2012 and  30th January 2013.
• All entries must be original works and comply with copyright requirements.
•  All entries, except freelancers applying under the web category, must include a declaration from the                 employer or commissioning company.
• The Jury’s decision will be final.
• Each individual can make a maximum of three submissions in any category. However, a separate entry form needs to be filled for each category.
• All entries could be accompanied by a statement (maximum 250 words) outlining the case for                           consideration for the awards. This may address criteria, rationale or relevant background information.             (optional)
• The WRCP team reserves the right to use all material submitted at the awards presentation and to                       reproduce it for the purposes of promoting the awards.
• Entries and submitted material will not be returned.
• There is no fee for sending the entries.
• All the entries should clearly state, on top of the entry form, the category for which the entry is being                 submitted.
•  Incomplete entry forms will be disqualified.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
All contestants whose entries shall qualify for judging shall receive certificate of appreciation and invitation to the 2nd National Conference on Gender & Media.

ENTRY DEADLINES :   15th February, 2013

For updates and other information, please contact:
2/11 Block M, Gulberg III, Lahore.
Ph: 042-35883570, 35883571, 35883572
Fax: 042-35860692
Email: info@whiteribbon.org.pk
Website: http://whiteribbon.org.pk

Various movements for women’s right have been initiated particularly focusing on violence against women, although some of them have made useful contributions in making women aware of their rights, they in general have been unable to bring a change in perception of the society. Simply making women aware of their rights is not going to solve any problem there is a greater challenge of changing the thinking pattern of the  public particularly men because they are the key decision makers in our families and society. White Ribbon Campaign Pakistan (WRCP), a nonprofit organization, has fully understood the dynamics of how our patriarchal society operates.  It works with a unique mission to involve men in ending violence against women. Their prime focus is to raise awareness and gender sensitivity among men and boys belonging to different strata of our society. It recognizes the need of mass mobilization of the community towards girl child and women rights and works on various cause specific programs by utilizing all available resources and spreads awareness about rights of young girls and ways to end discrimination against them. WRCP has also initiated programs to engage media persons and promote the culture of positive portrayal of women. Such steps will help in gradually changing the mindset of people and will result in a healthier and safer environment for women and young girls where they will have the opportunity to stand on their own feet and meet challenges of life with hopes of a better and fulfilling future.

Women possess equal rights, as much as men do in progressing development –  be at home, or in formal or informal environments, women are taking their responsibilities seriously, and in a sincere and committed way.

The women make more than half the population of the country, but sadly they are not treated well. Struggle from different non governmental organizations and some courageous women of the country to make a change in their lives showing a ray of hope to every female. Domestic violence is one the harsh realities of a Pakistani women. Activists who work for women cause say that many women remain in violent relationships because they believe they must obey their husbands and that divorce is a shame. Majority of the women population has same thoughts because of lack of education. One third of women in Pakistan are uneducated and have very little concept about making their own choices.

According to a report of NGO White Ribbon Campaign (WRC) Pakistani women are subject to increasing abuse. Increased cases of violence are being reported each year in Pakistan. According to the report: “sexual harassment at the workplace, abuse, beating, and rape were some of the forms of violence against women.”

Misconception about women empowerment

In general, few people have misconception that women empowerment and gender equality is a foreign agenda, people also think that women empowerment will destroy their society set up and women will not obey their husbands or their family,   but its only misconception women all over the world have been facing challenges and gender inequalities since the beginnings of history.

According to Quran and Hadith

Quran and the Hadith  both also emphasize on the protection of the rights of women, including the rights of education, worship, freedom of opinion, choice of spouse, economic freedom and social role.

So what should we do ?

Pakistan government has taken many measures to enhance the participation of women in economic sphere but instead of all this, there is a terrible need to upgrade the status of women in society and it is only possible through giving them protection legally and mentally. She should be given access and control over resources. An effective mechanism should be institutionalized to enable the women in decision making at all levels. Subject of gender studies should be introduced from secondary level in the course curriculum, provision of women friendly infrastructure and environment at workplace, research and documentation on the achievements of women and launching of awareness raising campaigns among citizens on gender and development.

Pakistani women can achieve their goal by joining hands together and motivating each other. Educate women which will ensure awareness of what is happening to women around the world today is an essential step towards improving their situation. It is a surprising fact that women are made to do some of the things simply because of the fact that they are women. No one can change the world by themselves, but many people doing a little can make a real difference in the society.

Women and Men Need to Pull Together and Unite Forces:

A famous  Pakistani saying :

“A man and a woman are like two wheels of a cart. The cart can move fast and safely when both of them are pulling the cart in the same direction, and with equal strength, but if one of the wheels is damage, nothing will be possible.”

Bottom Line

 No developing country or society can afford to ignore the role of a woman, if it desires progress.

Quaid e Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah said, “ “No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you; we are victims of evil customs. It is a crime against humanity that our women are shut up within the four walls of the houses as prisoners. There is no sanction anywhere for the deplorable condition in which our women have to live.” well its a very well self explanatory quote, Jinnah said in 1947, a hot topic for discussion and most needed action of these days around the globe.

The campaign now has an international presence in 52 countries and is growing rapidly. The campaign is driven by volunteerism at the grass-root level and has the financial backing of national and international organizations and individuals.