Faisalabad: March 13, 2010. (Shafiq Sharif reprts for PCP) Arooj-e-Mariam Catholic Church organized a people’s forum titled “Empowerment of Women in Pakistan: Cultural, Religious and Legal Hurdles” to mark international women’s day on 7th March 2010, at Sacred Heart High School in Faisalabad. Three hundred and seventy (370) Muslim and Christian participants including teachers, representatives of NGOs, journalists, lawyers, poets, priests, nuns, students and women actively participated in the people’s forum. Bishop Joseph Coutts presided over the event, while Fr. Nisar Barkat (Director-NCJP), Fr. Khalid Rasheed Asi, Amina Zaman (Director-ASDP), Najeeb Ali Shah, Dr. Rubina Rasheed, Farukh Hameed Advocate, Gulfam Naqvi, Fouzia Kanwal and Aqsa Kanwal were among the speakers. Bishop Joseph Coutts said, “There is a grave need of positive change in our society, therefore we must change our negative attitudes to bring about a positive and constructive societal change”. Father Nisar Barkat said, “Women still face discriminatory treatment in this modern era, because male domination exists in the society despite having numerous laws for the defense of women’s rights in Pakistan”. “Women are the worst victims of discrimination due to the illiteracy, unawareness of their rights, poverty and other social evils”, he added. Father Khalid Rasheed Asi said, “In this modern era, outdated customary practices against women are still used as a tool to deprive women from their right to property, even they are also killed for marrying with their own choice in the name of culture”. “Laws, society and culture are against the women in this state, so there is a need for all women to raise their voice courageously against the injustices”, he added. Amina Zaman said, “Government should pay attention and invest on the education, health and skill training for women”. “Women need to initiate an organized struggle for the attainment of their equal rights and for prevention of the violations of their rights”, she added. Najeeb Ali Shah said, “Islam has given right to women to marry with their own choice, but women are burned alive or killed for showing their desire to get married without the consent of their parents in our society, in the name of religion, culture and honor”. Dr. Rubina Rasheed said, “Government must increase ratio of allocated budget in the education and health sector for building a healthy and educated nation”. The speakers of the people’s forum called upon the Government to take following measures for the empowerment of women: All forms of discrimination existing in the constitution and laws on the basis of gender and sex should be removed; · Outmoded customs and traditions against women must be banned; · Customary and informal courts should be outlawed; · Educational and technical institutions should be established for the welfare and development of women; ·Implementation upon the existing domestic laws for the protection of human rights and rule of law must be ensured;