The eighth radio program as part of Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) was aired on February 23, 2018, on the topic of “Role of Women in Peacebuilding.”
The first guest on show, Ms. Nosheen Jamal, social activist, said that exhibiting tolerance for diversity and respect for differences are fundamental prerequisites for social peace, harmony and cohesion. She added that decision making at national and provincial assemblies needed to be more inclusive where women representatives actively participated in these processes for meaningful input on policy issues.
The second guest on show, Sakina Momand, social activist, said that due to religious and cultural barriers, the female councillors faced a lot of challenges during their interactions with the communities at the grass root level.
The third guest on show, Mr. Ali Akbar, Bureau Chief, Dawn News, Peshawar, said that social cohesion could not be achieved with just one gender’s contribution. Both men and women must realize their mutual interdependence for peace-building and conflict resolution.
The guest on phone, Ms. Amna Sardar, MPA, KP Assembly, said the female MPs come across traditional male dominance even in legislature. Their feedback and input for legislation and policy matters need to be given equal importance. The initiatives of female parliamentarians like child marriage restraint and domestic violence bills are the indicators of their contribution in peacebuilding.
A caller told that education is key to helping women fathom the importance of their role in peacebuilding and social cohesion.
About Ulasi Taroon
Ulasi Taroon is a counter radicalization initiative of Center for Research and Security Studies that aims to address the radicalization challenges, extremist ideologies and foster social cohesion through a discourse anchored in the core constitutional values which are fundamentally essential prerequisites for social peace and harmony. The endeavor aims to cultivate and sensitize the people of KP and FATA in the core values in the Pakistani constitution and our social contract. It’s an attempt to highlight the criticality of abiding by these ideals – such as adherence to rule of law, primacy and sanctity of constitution, equal citizenry, responsible citizenship, respect for fundamental human rights, tolerance for diversity and different opinions, inclusive democracy and good governance – as a measure of fostering social cohesion and peaceful co-existence.