ISLAMABAD: The Punjab Assembly Standing Committee of Gender Mainstreaming has formed first Women Peace Council in collaboration with the civil society development partner, with the aim to promote sustainable peace in the province at grassroots level.

The chairperson of the Standing Committee Uzma Kardar signed an MOU here with the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO) for the establishment of the WPC.

Ms Kardar has been elected as the convener of the council, and announced that there was a need to institute role of women in peace building, therefore the WPC has been established with the partnership of SSDO.

“The Standing Committee, WPC members and all Punjab Parliamentarians will work with the SSDO to make the platform functional,” she said adding, “We will strive to make the WPC an institution in near future through legislation.”

The SSDO has earlier helped establish the WPC in Sindh led by women MPAs of the province.

The WPC has been established to enhance women participation as due to ignorance and lack of resources in Pakistan the women’s participation has been very low, and the provision of justice at all levels was essential for the development of country and the establishment of a peaceful society.

The Women’s Peace Council aims to increase the role of women from all field of life for bringing in peace, development, and resilience against violence and extremism in society.

Highlighting the role played by women in the peace process all over the world, chief guest Parveen Sarwar Chaudhary made reference to the successful movements like “The Women in Black” of Yugoslavia and the “Women in Peace Building Network in West Africa”.

The women legislators highlighted that the role of women in peace and sustainable development was crucial and needed to be materialised.

SSDO Executive Director Syed Kausar Abbas said that women parliamentarians can raise awareness among women living across Punjab especially in rural areas for inclusive and sustainable peace, progress and development of society.

The SSDO will help in capacity building of the WPC members and channelise the meagre resources on priority while taking members of all parties along.

“We have designed a comprehensive campaign along with parliamentarians of Punjab and Sindh to spread the message of peace, interfaith harmony, social cohesion and bonding and community cooperation to address the growing menace of intolerance and extremism in society,” Mr Abbas said.

• Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2021*