Islamabad: The United Nations in Pakistan marked the ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence’ by calling for urgent global action against digital violence during an event at the Pakistan National Council of Arts here.
It alerted on the need to adapt the legislation to evolving technologies as nearly half of the world’s women and girls lack legal protection from digital abuse. The event, chaired by Minister for Human Rights Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, in presence of UN Women Regional Director Christine Arab, also marked the opening of ‘Seen & Unseen’, an Art exhibition featuring noted Pakistani artists, with Prof Salima Hashmi as honorary adviser.
It was part of a series of four other UN events that discussed how to keep women and girls safe online, and empower them to lead and shape the digital future, in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Quetta.
“During the 16 Days of Activism, we must invest in the vision and leadership of young people,” said Christine Arab, UN Women Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific. “When innovation is shaped by gender equality, we create digital spaces where women and girls are not just included, but protected, empowered and able to thrive,” she added as she launched UN Women’s Firewall Feminist Lab.
Pernille Ironside, acting UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, said the digital world promised connection and empowerment but still for millions of women and girls across the world, it had become a minefield of harassment and abuse.
