Artesia, CA: March 10, 2015. (PCP) Several dozen Sindhi women and men along with their families gathered in Artesia near Los Angeles on March 7th, 2015 to celebrate International Women’s Day. The event was organized by the International Sindhi Women Organization (ISWO), a non-profit, community-based group that highlights the struggles of Sindhi women in Sindh and overseas. ISWO has been active in the UK and US for the past three years. “ISWO is playing a unique role in Sindhi Diaspora community by providing opportunities to strengthen the bonds with countless Sindhis that migrated during partition,” said Samina Panwhar, the President of ISWO US, emphasizing the organization’s vision. She highlighted ISWO’s activities in policy and advocacy as well as grassroots level efforts. The organization identifies women’s issues and links them with specific policies in order to demand tangible action from the concerned authorities. “The Dancing Girl statue of the Indus Civilization is a symbol of freedom for the women of our heritage, and we ought to bring that symbolic value back into our society,” further said Ms. Panwhar. Sobhya Agha, the MC of the event, welcomed the guests and said, “Today is the day to appreciate the respect, achievements, and love towards women. We are delighted to have Sindhi Women from various backgrounds to celebrate the bond of Sindhi culture.” Dr. Sarina Chugani Molina, the Assistant Professor at the University of San Diego, delivered a multi-media presentation telling her family’s journey through different parts of the world and the cultural enrichment in the process that shaped her education, learning, and identity. She admired the adaptability of people with Sindhi roots and how they accommodate other cultures and are capable of making good lives for themselves in any part of the world. She also presented a beautiful poem portraying her migration through three continents titled “I didn't know I didn't realize.” Ms. Kavita Tekchanchandani, a lawyer and a human rights advocate based in Southern California, described the sad story of Ms. Kainat Soomro, a Sindhi woman who is struggling to seek justice for a gang rape she experienced at the age of 13. Her case is a typical example of the limitation of the Pakistani judicial system and the lack of scienfic approaches such as DNA as the primary evidence, making it almost impossible to get a fair trial for any rape victims. The award winning documentary film Outlawed in Pakistan, depicting the story of Ms. Soomro, was screened on this occassion. The film follows Ms. Soomro and her family as they struggle for justice, showcasing the subsequent losses they encountered in defying cultural conventions. Ms. Benazir Shaikh closed the event with thankful remarks to the community of Southern California for their ongoing support and their contributions towards ISWO’s causes. The entertainment program also included a classical dance performance by Dr. Meena Makhijani and Sindhi music by Mr. Sarla Sippy. A fundraising drive to support Ms. Kainat Soomro was also part of the event. ISWO recognized the volunteers Pramol Dhawan, Leena Tekchandani, Venus Shaikh, Erin Scott, Saghir Shaikh, Saleem Soomro, Mohan Dadlani, and Kishan Hingorani for their hard work on this event. Other organizations that supported the event included the Sindhi Association of Southern California, World Sindhi Congress, and Sindhu Center. ISWO celebrated a similar event in United Kingdom on the same day. About ISWO: International Sindhi Women Organization (ISWO) endeavors to empower Sindhi women through capacity building and leadership. ISWO is committed to promoting Sindhi women’s civil, social and political rights at international platforms. ISWO is dedicated to advancing Sindhi women’s role in policy and decision making processes in all spheres of society, including economic, political, social and environmental, both locally and internationally.