Faisalabad: March 11, 2010. (PCP) On 8th March 2010, Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM) organized a seminar titled “Gender Equality and Equity: Step towards a Just Society” on the occasion of international women’s day at Sandal Bar Hotel in Faisalabad. This seminar was joined by 280 Muslim and Christian participants including political workers, teachers, students, working women, women with disabilities and representatives of organizations. The speakers of the seminar included; Naseem Anthony (Executive Secretary-AWAM), Khalida Mansoor (M.N.A.), Amina Zaman (Director-ASDP), Shazia George (Coordinator-AWAM), Zil-e-Atif, Najma Afzal, Parveen Atif, Kaneez Ishaq, Iftikhar Ahmad, Nazia Sardar, Afsheen Patras and Um-e-Fawa. Naseem Anthony said, “In the modern era, male domination and discriminatory attitudes towards women still exists in the society due to patriarchy, illiteracy, ignorance to human rights, discriminatory laws, customs and traditions against women”. Khalida Mansoor said, “The human rights of women are usurped immensely, even they are deprived of right to vote, education, move freely and marry with own choice, in several areas of Pakistan, despite having numerous laws for the protection of human rights of women in Pakistan”. Amina Zaman said, “Present Government has showed positive gestures by passing two laws for defending women’s rights on ‘domestic violence’ and ‘sexual harassment at workplaces’, but implementation upon these laws by taking stern action against the violators, is the major challenge for the government to prove its intention towards women’s respect, honour and access to justice”. Shazia George said, “Women are forced to play only marginal roles as the society stereotypes the domestic tasks for males and females, therefore women still suffer from the accumulation of centuries of discrimination in the name of culture”. Zil-e-Atif said, “The constitution of Pakistan guarantees equal rights to women, but there exists discrimination in laws, policies, traditions and provisions in the constitution on account of sex in Pakistan, therefore such gender based biases must be culminated for empowerment of women”. Najma Afzal said, “Women need to initiate an organized struggle with bravery against injustices for the attainment of their equal rights and for prevention of the violations of their human rights”. Parveen Atif said, “Government must pay attention on the poor condition of women and must invest towards women’s empowerment in the fields of health, formal and technical education for building a healthy and civilized nation”. The speakers of the seminar called upon the government that: laws, policies and provisions in the constitution having discrimination on the basis of sex and gender should be amended to comply them with the standards and norms of human rights; implementation of the domestic laws for the defense of women’s rights must be ensured; informal courts and outmoded culturally practices against women should be banned; educational and technical institutions for the empowerment of women should be established; women’s access to justice, equal opportunities and human rights must be ensured for building a just society.