Dr. Jaipal Chhabria

Every year, 10 September is observed as World Suicide Prevention Day to draw attention to one of the most painful and neglected public-health problems in the world. The theme for 2024–2026 is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”, and in 2026 the call is “Start the Conversation.” The message is simple: suicide should not be surrounded by silence, shame and stigma. We must talk about it openly, compassionately and responsibly.

What is suicide?

Suicide is the intentional ending of one’s own life. However, suicide should not be understood simply as an individual decision or a consequence of one particular problem. It is usually the result of a complex interaction of psychological, social, family, economic, cultural and environmental factors.

The World Health Organization estimates that more than 720,000 people die by suicide every year worldwide. In 2021, an estimated 727,000 people died by suicide. Suicide was the third leading cause of death among people aged 15–29, while 73% of suicides occurred in low- and middle-income countries. For every suicide, there are many more attempts.

Suicide is therefore not only a mental-health issue. It is a public-health, social and economic issue requiring action from governments, health departments, schools, families, communities and civil society.

Psychological causes

Mental-health problems can significantly increase suicide risk. Depression, severe anxiety, substance-use disorders, trauma, loneliness and other psychological difficulties may make a person feel that there is no solution to their suffering.

But we must avoid the misconception that every person who dies by suicide has a diagnosed mental illness. WHO points out that many suicides occur during periods of acute crisis when a person temporarily loses the ability to cope with overwhelming stress. Relationship problems, financial difficulties, chronic illness, violence, abuse, loss and isolation can all contribute.

This is why early identification is so important. A person who is suffering needs someone who will listen without judgment and connect them with appropriate professional and social support.

Social causes

Social conditions can create enormous psychological pressure. Domestic violence, forced or unhappy marriages, family conflict, discrimination, social isolation, lack of education, unemployment and the breakdown of traditional support systems can all increase vulnerability.

Young people are particularly exposed to pressures related to education, employment, relationships and social expectations. Women facing domestic violence or restrictions on their choices may feel trapped when there is no safe support system.

The answer is not to blame the victim or the family. We need to create a society where asking for psychological help is considered an act of courage rather than a source of shame.

Economic causes

Poverty and economic insecurity can also contribute to despair. Unemployment, debt, loss of livelihood, food insecurity, illness-related expenses and inability to provide for one’s family can produce severe psychological stress.

This relationship is particularly important in rural and drought-affected areas. In Tharparkar, previous reporting has linked worsening economic conditions, declining agricultural yields, livestock losses and drought with increased vulnerability to suicide.

Economic hardship alone does not automatically cause suicide, but when poverty is combined with family conflict, isolation, poor healthcare and lack of hope for the future, the risk can become much greater.

Pakistan: a serious problem hidden by poor data

Pakistan faces a major challenge because reliable national suicide statistics are limited. WHO’s country data lists a suicide mortality rate of 6.09 per 100,000 population for Pakistan in 2019, but WHO also emphasizes that suicide data are frequently incomplete or under-reported because of stigma, misclassification and weaknesses in death-registration systems.

Therefore, we should not assume that available numbers represent the true scale of the problem.

Pakistan needs a reliable national suicide surveillance system covering hospitals, police records, death registration and mental-health services. Without accurate information, governments cannot identify high-risk communities or measure whether prevention programs are working.

The painful situation in Sindh and Tharparkar

The situation in Tharparkar deserves particular attention. Reports have repeatedly identified the district as having an exceptionally high number of reported suicides in relation to its population.

According to Tharparkar police figures reported by Dawn, 129 suicides were recorded in 2022, compared with 121 in 2021. Of the 129 reported deaths in 2022, 70 were females and 59 were males. The reporting also highlighted domestic violence, unhappy marriages, poverty, social isolation and weakened community support as important factors.

Earlier studies and reports have also identified drought, poverty, loss of agricultural livelihoods and livestock as contributing pressures. A psychological-autopsy study in Tharparkar found that financial constraints, chronic physical or mental-health problems and social difficulties were among the factors expressed by victims; notably, 48% of the cases studied involved teenagers.

More recent research involving more than 5,000 residents of Tharparkar has continued to highlight mental-health problems and lack of awareness as major concerns. Experts have also emphasized the stigma surrounding mental illness.

This is a warning that Tharparkar cannot be treated simply as another administrative district. It requires a special suicide-prevention program designed around its geographical, economic, cultural and healthcare realities.

Failure of the Sindh Government

The continuing problem also raises serious questions about the performance of the Sindh Government.

Establishing institutions is not enough. The people of Tharparkar need functioning mental-health services, trained professionals, emergency support, reliable data and continuous community-based prevention.

A 2023 report noted that despite the establishment of the Sindh Mental Health Authority, Tharparkar had only one psychiatrist serving the enormous district, while police records were also inconsistent and many cases were poorly investigated or classified.

This represents a failure not merely of healthcare but of governance.

The Sindh Government must accept that suicide prevention requires a long-term program rather than occasional seminars after another tragedy occurs.

Our recommendations

First, Sindh should establish a District Suicide Prevention Program in Tharparkar, with dedicated funding and measurable targets.

Second, every major hospital and rural health facility should have trained psychologists, psychiatrists or mental-health counsellors, with tele-psychiatry available in remote villages.

Third, schools and colleges should introduce mental-health awareness, emotional-life skills and confidential counselling for students.

Fourth, the government should establish a 24-hour suicide and mental-health crisis helpline connected to trained professionals and emergency services.

Fifth, accurate suicide and attempted-suicide data must be collected through hospitals, police, death registration and public-health departments while protecting families’ privacy.

Sixth, special programs must address domestic violence, forced marriages, child marriage and violence against women.

Seventh, economic programs in Tharparkar must address poverty, drought, water shortages, food insecurity, livestock losses and unemployment. Suicide prevention cannot succeed while people remain trapped in extreme economic insecurity.

Eighth, highly hazardous pesticides and other readily accessible lethal means should be regulated and safely stored. WHO identifies restricting access to highly lethal means as one of the evidence-based approaches to suicide prevention.

Ninth, media organizations must report suicides responsibly and avoid sensationalism, speculation or unnecessary details about the method. Responsible reporting can help rather than increase harm.

Tenth, religious leaders, teachers, doctors, community leaders, NGOs and civil-society organizations should be trained to recognize warning signs and guide vulnerable people towards professional help.

Conclusion

Suicide is not a sign of weakness. It is often a sign that a person has reached a point where unbearable suffering has overwhelmed their ability to cope.

We must replace silence with conversation, stigma with compassion, neglect with treatment and despair with hope.

The people of Tharparkar deserve the same right to mental-healthcare and social protection as every other citizen of Pakistan. Every life lost is not merely a statistic—it is a parent, child, brother, sister, husband, wife or friend whose absence leaves a permanent wound.

On World Suicide Prevention Day, 10 September 2026, let us start the conversation.

The Sindh Government must act before another life is lost. Suicide is preventable, and prevention must become a public-health priority.

Read: Desperate cries: Suicides increase in Tharparkar

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Dr. Jaipal Chhabria – Committee Against Human Rights Violation, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Sindh

The post Suicide: A Human Tragedy We Can Prevent first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Tasneem Hossain | Dhaka

‘You can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first.’

The saying suggests that in order to take care of others effectively, we must take care of ourselves first.

How many of us truly take care of ourselves in the true sense of the word?

Normally most people think going to the parlour, having a lavish bath in the bath tub or exercising regularly is self-care. In fact an ideal self-care is an amalgamation of different activities and mindsets which may benefit you-mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.

It doesn’t mean that you stop having a beauty regime or stop  taking care of your diet or stop enjoying a late night  movie – these are all part of the self-care routine. Just remember that it’s important to consider many other activities required to maintain a healthy, stable mental, physical and spiritual state.

Sadly, majority of us simply don’t have the time, grit or means to make regular self-care a reality in our daily lives.  Our daily chores, the environment and daily happenings are a hindrance which drains us of our energy to spare some time for self-care. Some of us may face social or cultural barriers; some may not have the access; some might even face criticism as being too luxurious and selfish in taking self-care.

Self-care is not selfish. Self-care allows you function better in order to increase your ability to help care for others. If you cannot expect your car to run continuously for thousands of miles without refueling then how can you expect of taking care of others without rejuvenating yourself?  Catering for the need to individual happiness not only needs to be normalized but celebrated and promoted in society.

Each individual has her/ his own problems to deal with. So you should never feel any shame for looking after your health. Staying in a healthy and happy state of mind, you need to proactively incorporate self-care into your daily routine.

What is self-care?

WHO defines self-care as individuals, families and communities’ promoting and maintaining their own health, preventing disease, and coping with illness and disability, with or without the support of a health worker.

Self-care is so important that a whole day, a week and even a month has been dedicated to raise awareness about the importance of self-care around the globe. International Self-Care Day (ISD) is on July 24 to represent the benefits of self-care experienced 24 hours a day, seven days a week (24/7).

It has its roots in the 1950s Civil Rights Movement, as Black activists and organizers integrated the term meaningfully into their movements. The concept took off in the 1970s, when the Black Panther Party promoted self-care as a revolutionary way for Black and other oppressed citizens to heal from the constant pains of racism, and empower themselves to continue their fight for equality. Women’s rights activists and feminist activists also began adapting their own ideas of what self-care meant for women.

Modern self-care aims to help everyone to overcome the stress that affects millions of people worldwide and to practice self-care proactively for personal wellness.

International Self-Care Day was developed in 2011, by the International Self-Care Foundation (ISF), a UK-based organization to promote self-care as a strong foundation for health. The U.S. Senate designated July 24 as International Self-Care Day in 2014.

ISF’s ultimate aim is for ISD to be formally recognized by the United Nations as an official commemorative day, which would further encourage worldwide participation.

This annual celebration inspires and gives an opportunity to promote self-care for personal wellness and to create awareness and reevaluate your health and lifestyle. Self-care interventions do not replace health systems, they enhance them. This practice can also include collaboration with healthcare professionals when needed. This day also helps organizations and workplaces to focus on self-care routine as a public health concern and implement programs to make self-care more accessible.  It’s part of a holistic approach to improve health care and contributes to universal health coverage.

In a time when millions across the globe are suffering from depression leading to suicides, disoriented families and violence, we need to include self- care on a daily basis. We need to remember that even the smallest actions can lead to initiate progress in recovery.

Let’s look at some of the mindfulness tools that we can practice every day:

• Start your day by stretching. A healthy and happy start to the day makes a lot of difference to the rest of the day. Exercise daily. Taking in fresh air is vital to our holistic wellbeing: go for a 30 minute walk every day in nature; go bird watching or go by the sea shore- whichever instills happiness in you. The air in nature and sunlight works as an antidepressant.
• Do breathing exercises. Practice relaxing activities such as meditation and yoga regularly. This will help you to acquire a positive attitude.
• Stay hydrated by having 3 – 4 liters of water in a day. Have a balanced and healthy diet rich in a healthy mixture of protein, carbohydrates, fibers, vitamins and minerals
• Sleep 6-8 hours to recharge your body. Avoid using your phone or computer during bedtime to have a good sleep.
• Decrease screen time. Detox your social media by un-following accounts that make you feel bad
• Take care of body hygiene.
• Get in touch with loved ones for emotional support or practical advice. Surround yourself with positive minded people.
• Pamper yourself at home or in parlour; buy something (within budget); have a lavish breakfast, lunch or dinner – solo or with loved ones at a restaurant; watch a movie with friends; listen to music or have a dance party at home.
• Keep Journaling about the good things in life. It’s an excellent way to manage anxiety, reduce stress, and cope with depression. Practice gratitude. Be kind-research shows that random little acts of kindness boost happiness and improve empathy levels.
• Solve quizzes and play brain games. Learn a language, a new dish. Learn something new occasionally to keep the mind working.
• Volunteer for charity work. Read motivational stories. Read selected self-help books.
• Take some time out and review your total health plan. Take actions to plan for your health and your future.
• Pay your bills on time and put money into savings for financial self – care.
• Tidy up your home by de-cluttering. A neat and clean home uplifts one and helps in environmental self-care.

Do remember that self-care looks different for each individual. There is no single one-size-fits-all plan that will continue to be effective throughout your entire life. So make a self -care routine accordingly and be ready to incorporate what’s needed.

Make a commitment to yourself for self-care. Make stick on notes with the things you need to do and stick it in places where you can see them at home and office as a reminder.

Practice positive self-care affirmations to help build self-esteem, reduce stress, and increase emotional resilience.  Self-care allows you the opportunity to stay physically, mentally, financially and spiritually healthy. These, in turn, help you to be more productive and successful in all aspects of life.

The importance of self- care is so much that some countries like the UK and Canada have self-care weeks. Since 2011, self-care activities have been organized around the globe in many countries like Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, China, Iran, Kenya, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tanzania, the United States, the United Kingdom and Vietnam.

In 2017, America started Self-Care Awareness Month in September. However, the World Health Organization announced a ‘Self-Care Month’ starting on 24 June and ending on 24 July to coincide with International Self-Care Day. This is to promote regional and national level initiatives to practice self-care.

The 2026 theme of International Self-Care Day is “Self-Care puts your health in your hands: Test. Track. Thrive”.

The campaign emphasizes proactive, preventive health measures on the philosophy that informed, daily care both physical and mental improves the overall quality of life.

Focus areas for this year’s observation:

Test: To proactively go for regular health screenings and physical check-ups.

Track: Monitoring daily lifestyle choices like diet, exercise, and sleep patterns.

Thrive: Reaping the long-term benefits of sustained preventive habits and to help you stay   ahead of potential health complications.

Whatever type of self-care one practices, one is bound to have positive benefits. Self-care concept may seem pointless to some, but it’s undoubtedly vital for having an ideal healthy lifestyle. Most of us try to find positivity in this world. If we truly want to achieve it, it’s imperative to start with ourselves.

Small steps will take you closer to achieve happiness. Your individual little steps together with others will bring happiness in this world.

This year, from July 24th onwards, start practicing self-care. Transform yourselves into a new version of you – a better and happier you.

Be the change to accomplish your happiness for a beautiful tomorrow.

References:

1. International Self-Care Day, 24 July 2023 – Importance, Theme & History, Pace Hospitals.
2. Lifestyle desk, International Self-Care Day 2022: Daily morning habits to inculcate in your lifestyle, The Indian Express, July 24, 2022.
3. INTERNATIONAL SELF-CARE DAY, ISF International self-care foundation.

Read: Thoughts of a Cancer Patient

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Tasneem Hossain is a multilingual poet, columnist, op-ed and fiction writer, educator, translator, and training consultant. She writes poems in English, Urdu, and Bengali. As an op-ed writer, she has authored over 130 articles.

The post Self- Care: A Holistic Approach first appeared on Sindh Courier.

• Children are emotionally attached more to a mother but fathers provide a feeling of physical, mental and financial security

Tasneem Hossain | Bangladesh

Father and mother, both play a great role in the development of a child. Fathers make great sacrifices but their roles have always remained underrated. They love their children with their hearts but their expressions are different.

Father and mother are two important pillars of a family and children need both of them during their formative years.  Both contribute immensely to the welfare and development of children but, today on Father’s Day, let’s focus on father’s contribution towards the children.

Fathers, like mothers, help in the development of a child’s emotional well-being. An affectionate and supportive father helps greatly in a child’s cognitive and social development; promotes inner growth and strength; instills an overall sense of well-being and self-confidence.

Their contributions start, even before the child comes to this world, just like mothers but in a different way. When mothers are expecting, fathers give mothers mental comfort and all kinds of support to have a safe delivery, which help in the healthy growth and birth of a healthy child.

Though, fathers are no longer the sole providers, they provide financial security for the family. They sacrifice their own needs to fulfill the basic necessities of the children and family. They love them and nourish them with whatever resources they have. They forget about their own comfort. Their priority is their children and the family.

In absence of a mother, fathers put their heart and soul to take care of the baby just as a mother would.

‘A dad is someone who wants to catch you when you fall. Instead he picks you up, brushes you off and lets you try again.’ —Unknown

Fathers may seem rough and tough, but they discipline the child solely with the purpose to prepare the child to cope and handle external dangers like bullying and violence and to succeed in life. They teach their children how to stay calm under stress and how to deal with difficult situations; guide them to be tough and take charge; motivate them to be assertive and give support to recover from disappointments, solve problems and set boundaries. Frankly speaking, children obey rules and boundaries at home set by fathers more, as most of the mothers are soft hearted and they sometimes bend to the children’s whims.

Fathers give children the much-needed direction to become independent adults. Their involvement makes them more likely to excel and succeed in the future. Studies show that children who grow up with their fathers are 39% more likely to excel academically; display better psychological well-being and lower levels of delinquency.

When a child observes the sacrifices and hard work of the father, the child also becomes inspired and makes him the ideal of life. His presence in the family determines a child’s happiness and success, as presence of both parents are required for the child to have a sense of belonging.

A father is a superhero to a child. Sometimes, fathers’ attitudes differ according to the gender of the child.

Father’s influence on their daughters is immense. As fathers shower love, respect and care for the daughters, it teaches daughters how a man should treat them. A girl’s ability to trust and interact with men is also determined by the relationship she has with her father.

For boys, their father is their role model. His values pave the way to their future, his actions inspire their integrity and his patience influences their character. If a father is caring and treats people with respect, the young boy will grow up having empathy, compassion and respect.

Studies show that when a child has a healthy relationship with a father figure, they have improved psychological health, as well as better quality relationships throughout their lives. They are generally more secure and happy in their teenage years; have higher levels of self-esteem and confidence; and develop more stable relationships with other men in their adulthood.

The invaluable influence of fathers on the child’s psychological and physical wellbeing needs full recognition. Unfortunately, eulogizing fathers and Father’s Day is yet to gain popularity, as much, as it deserves.

Father’s Day is a dedicated day to honor and show appreciation for the positive role a father plays on the children’s  and families’ lives. . It’s more than just a tradition – it’s a heartfelt event that celebrates the love, sacrifices, and support fathers provide every day.

Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June every year in celebration for all the fathers around the world. This year, 2025, it falls on 15 June.

Father’s Day was created by two women. Its seeds were sown on July 5, 1908 when a Sunday sermon was organised in West Virginia church in memory of 362 men who had died in 1907 December explosions. The sermon was an outcome of the efforts of Grace Golden Clayton, the daughter of a reverend. While missing her father, who had died in 1896, she wanted to honor the many fathers who had died in the mining accident in U.S. history. Though this service was the first to honor fathers, the idea wasn’t promoted.

Later, in 1909, Sonora Smart Dodd, one of six children raised by a widower, tried to establish an official event identical to ‘Mother’s Day’ for fathers. She started gathering support for the idea and proposed June 5, 1910, as the designated day, the birthday of her father, American Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart. The idea received strong support, but the ministers of Spokane, Washington needed some extra time to prepare sermons on the subject of fathers. Thus, the first Father’s Day was observed on June 19, 1910 (the third Sunday in June), and became an annual event there.

The campaign to celebrate the nation’s fathers did not meet with the same enthusiasm as Mother’s Day, possibly because, as one florist explained, ‘fathers haven’t the same sentimental appeal that mothers have.’

Many men disliked the idea of domesticating manliness with flowers and gifts. They considered it a commercial trick to sell more products, often paid by the fathers themselves. Mother’s Day was officially recognized in 1914 and President Woodrow Wilson called Mother’s Day a way to recognize ‘that tender, gentle army—the mothers of America.’ So, men in the early 1900s considered such a tribute as being unmanly.

Interestingly, during the 1920s and 1930s, a movement arose to abolish Mother’s Day and Father’s Day in favor of a single holiday: Parents’ Day. The idea being that both parents should be loved and respected together.

However, during the Great Depression, sellers tried to commercialize the day to make money during financial hard times. Shopkeepers tried to boost sales for men with gifts such as greeting cards, neckties, hats, socks and other sporting goods.  When World War II started, people began to use Father’s Day as a way to pay respect to American troops.

Father’s Day did not become a national holiday for many years. The first bill was introduced in Congress in 1913. Though, President Woodrow Wilson encouraged the idea, it did not pass.

After long 58 years of official declaration of Mother’s Day, President Richard Nixon signed Proclamation 4127 on May 1, 1972, declaring Father’s Day as a national holiday, to be celebrated annually on the third Sunday. The first official celebration was on June 18, 1972. He wrote on the document, “Let each American make this Father’s Day an occasion for renewal of the love and gratitude we bear to our fathers, increasing and enduring through all the years.’

Though, most of the countries celebrate Father’s Day on the third Sunday in June each year, it’s celebrated, in some different countries on different dates, often based on religious or cultural significance.

In Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, Father’s Day has been popularized by Western influences.

In Catholic countries like Spain, Italy and Portugal, it’s celebrated on March 19th, which is the Feast of St. Joseph who is the patron saint of fathers.

The Taiwanese celebrate the day on August 8 as the Chinese for eight is ‘ba’, while a colloquial word for father is ‘ba-ba’ .

In Thailand, it’s celebrated on former King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s birthday, December 5.

In Australia, it’s held on the first Sunday of September; in Norway, Sweden, and Finland, on the second Sunday in November.

Russia’s Father’s Day began as a military celebration and has evolved into the country’s modern Father’s Day. Because of its military roots, the holiday is called Defender of the Fatherland Day and celebrated on 23 February.

Father’s Day celebrates and honors the importance and value of fatherhood. On this day, we thank fathers and father figures for the sacrifices they make, for embracing the responsibility of nurturing and raising children, and for their devotion to their families. There are countless ways to celebrate Father’s Day 2025. It ca be a relaxing quality time sharing meals with family. Also, activities like fishing and sports, which fathers enjoy, giving personalized gifts, or handmade crafts, personalized video message or video calls are ways to show him appreciation and love. The gifts don’t have to be extravagant, those may be simple given with care and sincerity.  It’s a way to let him know that we love him, respect him for what he has done for us and that he continues to inspire us every day.

Children are emotionally attached more to a mother but fathers provide a feeling of physical, mental and financial security. He is the symbol of love, passion, friendship, affection and security. They are motivators, teachers, protectors and guide. They make their life complete.

We all love our fathers but we sometimes fear them. Fathers may look tough and less emotional but they love you and love being loved.

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there!

Go tell you father, ‘Father I love you. Thanks for being there for me.’

This article was first published on bddnews24.com, Bangladesh

References:

1. Aldrich, Jennifer, When Is Father’s Day in 2023? Here’s Everything You Need to Know, Country Living, April 23, 2023
2. Father’s Day around the world in 2023, Office Holidays.
3. Scot, Aurelia C. The Forgotten History of Father’s Day, ALMANAC,9 June 2023
4. History. Dot com Editors, Father’s Day 2023, HHistory, May 15 2023

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Tasneem Hossain is a multilingual poet, columnist, op-ed and fiction writer, educator, translator, and training consultant. She writes poems in English, Urdu, and Bengali. As an op-ed writer, she has authored over 130 articles. Her articles deal with day to day life events and deals with personal development issues; and creates awareness about social and human rights issues. Several of her articles and poems are utilized as teaching material in universities and academies across various countries; some have been referenced in university research papers by academics. She is author of three poetry collections—Grass in Green, The Pearl Necklace, and Floating Feather and a book of articles ‘Split and Splice’, she also leads an international poetry project and group called Life in Lyrics. Additionally, four more books are currently in progress

Read: Chasing the Northern Lights

The post World Day: Father -The Superhero first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Karachi

On the occasion of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Home Based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF) organized Women Workers Convention which demanded for the anti-harassment committees’ formulation at all the workplaces to stop violence against women at work.

Zehra Khan of HBWWF said that the UN General Assembly proclaimed this day as the International Day against Violence against Women in 1999.

This day is commemorated in honor of the three revolutionary sisters, Patria, Minerva, and Maria Tresa, who fought against the notoriously Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo (1930–61). The Mirabal Sisters and their husbands were imprisoned and tortured, but they refused to give in and devoted their lives in order to secure their country’s freedom and democratic order. These three sisters were revered as the Unforgettable Butterflies and later honored as the women’s rights icons.

Zehra Khan said that the persistent violence against women has a significant impact on the lives of working women everywhere. In Pakistan especially, violence against women is a violation of their human rights and a barrier to gender equality. A major concern for trade unions was workplace violence against women, which had an impact on employees’ rights, safety, health, and dignity. In order to avoid all forms of violence against women, unions should priorities addressing these issues both inside and outside of the union.

She also said that the anti-harassment law passed in 2010 in Pakistan, must be properly implemented in order to stop the impunity of those who commit acts of violence. Trade unions must also provide safe venues for women to report harassment situations and remove any barriers to their speaking out, such as shame or fear.

On the occasion Christina Oliver, Assistance General Secretary of Industrial Global Union sent her message that “As we commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Industrial Global Union joins hands with our Sisters and Brothers in remembering the Butterfly sisters, Patria, Minerva, and Maria Teresa Mirabal, who were brutally killed on this day in 1960 by the brutal dictatorial regime of Leónidas Trujillo in the Dominican Republic. Their bravery to fight a corrupt and violent dictator will never be forgotten, nor will their deaths be in vain. Their Revolutionary Spirits will live on forever in our hearts and minds.”

Nasir Mansoor of National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) said that given the impunity, silence, stigma, and shame that surround it, violence against women and girls (VAWG) is one of the most pervasive, ongoing, and terrible human rights violations in our time. She added that a global movement for the prevention and reaction of violence against women and girls was ignited by the #MeToo movement five years ago. In this backdrop, ILO Convention 190 and Recommendation 206’s adoption in 2019 has created an incredible momentum for the prevention and eradication of gender-based violence in the workplace.

Saeed Baloch of Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum said that the trade unions are fighting for the ratification and application of the Convention in several countries in collaboration with feminist and other human rights organizations.

He added that ILO C190 has been ratified by 22 nations, 13 of which have done so recently. Ratification of C 190 is increasing fast and it also assuming that the more 50 countries will have ratified this agreement by 2030.

The speakers called an end to all laws that discriminate against women. They demanded an end to workplace harassment of women and the formation of anti-harassment committees in every business. They also demanded an end to wage disparities based on gender, Pakistani government should ratify ILO Convention 190, encourage employers to create policies to end all forms of violence against women in their workplaces and throughout their entire supply chains, and set up mechanisms for women employees to file complaints and have those complaints resolved.

Other who spoke on the occasion were Saira Feroz of United HB Workers Union, Parveen Bano of HBWs, Abdul Hai Baloch of HRCP, Shakeela Asghar, factory worker and Aqib Hussain. (PR)

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The post Eliminate all forms of violence against women first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Sindh Courier

Karachi

The recent climate change induced rain-floods have compounded the problems of already vulnerable home-based workers in Pakistan, especially in Sindh province and a very big challenge is ahead in shape of food crisis and closure of textile sector as the torrential rains have massively damaged paddy, rice and cotton crops, said speakers on the occasion of International Home-based Workers Day on Thursday.

Addressing a press conference held by Home Based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF) Pakistan, at the Karachi Press Club (KPC), Zehra Akbar Khan, general secretary of HBWWF said that on October 20, 2000, a Kathmandu Declaration for the rights of South Asian home-based workers was adopted by representatives of South Asian governments, UN agencies and trade unions in a conference organized by UNIFEM and WIEGO, supported by International Development Research Centre at Kathmandu, Nepal.

She said there at least 50 million home-based workers in South Asia, 80percent of them women. She said in the Kathmandu declaration it was promised to formulate National Policy on Home-based Workers by each participating country; however, it is still a distant dream.

She said Sindh province in Pakistan was the first province and Pakistan was the first country of South Asia that passed a law for home-based workers in 2010. She said later KP and Balochistan provinces have also passed such laws for the home-based workers but the Punjab assembly is yet to pass this law and also there is no such law in federal territory of Islamabad. She regretted that despite passage of this law, its proper benefits and privileges are yet to be given to the home-based workers. She said after Covid and then now recent rains and floods the economic issues of the home-based workers have been further deteriorated and they face a bleak future. She said the registration process of home-based workers is yet in limbo and the Sindh labor department is not serious in registration of home-based workers, though the HBWWF has already provided them with necessary equipment and software.

Khan regretted that the stakeholders are not being properly consulted regarding practical implementation of the Home-based Workers Act. She said they have got filled registration forms of a lot of home-based workers and deposited them with the Labor Department but they are yet to start their verification process. She said they have given an ultimatum of one month to the Sindh labor department and if they failed to start and complete the verification process the home-based workers would stage protests.

She said their demand about the universalization of labor for SESSI benefits has been accepted and included in the definition but it is said that the home-based workers would pay a self-contribution of Rs1500 per month. She said the earning of women home-based workers is meagre and they cannot pay such monthly contribution; therefore, this condition should be abolished or reduced to Rs200 to Rs300 per month. She demanded that the home-based workers should be included in the orbit of minimum wages. She demanded equal wages for equal work for all home-based workers.  She said that a Council under the Home-based Workers Act should be established without further loss of time. She said that on the occasion of international day of home-based workers, besides Karachi home-based workers are staging programs in Hyderabad and Faisalabad also.

Peoples Labor Bureau (PLB) President and veteran PPP labor leader Habibuddin Junedi said that the provincial government of Sindh has passed more labor-friendly laws than any other province of Pakistan. He said we have worked a lot for the rights of laborers. He accepted that the issue of implementation of the labor laws is there, adding the government should take practical steps to get the laws implemented. He said there are ‘system issues’ and tardy bureaucracy that are main hindrance in way of swift implementation of labor laws including Home-based Workers Act. He assured of his all-out cooperation to get these issues resolved soon.

Nasir Mansoor, general secretary of National Trade Union Federation Pakistan (NTUF) said that more than a decade has passed of approval of the Kathmandu declaration but the National Policy for Home-based Workers is yet to be formed in Pakistan. He said we have not yet ratified crucial ILO convention in this regard. He said international labor agencies are not taking on board the real representatives of Sindh labors in consultation process despite the fact that almost seventy percent of industries are situated in Karachi. He said after anti-labor pacts with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the process of de-economization is on the rise and formal labor is being shifted to non-formal and de-economy sector on a fast track.

He expressed grave concern over harsh climate changes due to growing carbon emission by the industrial countries. He said the promise of a fund of $100billion to compensate the losses of climate change hit nations is yet to be materialize. He said after recent heavy rains paddy and cotton crops have been lost, especially in Sindh and a big food crisis is in the offing. He said due to damage of cotton crop, the textile industry would face closure and it is feared that hundreds of thousands of textile workers would be rendered jobless in Karachi alone.

To a question, he said labor organizations, especially HBWWF and NTUF are generating donations for the flood affected workers, providing them relief goods and holding relief camps for them in different areas.

Perveen Bano, a home-based worker from Yousuf Goth Karachi said the women home-based workers are facing a lot of difficulties due to growing joblessness and very low wages. She said we went door to door and got registration forms filled from women home-based workers but the labour department is not verifying them. She warned that if the registration process was not started soon the women home-based workers would protest strongly and it would create immense political problems for the government.

The speakers demanded to get the Home-based Workers Act fully implemented by constituting a Council under it and ensuring registration of the home-based workers to give them their due benefits and privileges. They warned if the demands of the home-based workers are not met they would stage protests for their due rights.

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The post Climate change calamities compound problems of home-based workers in Pakistan first appeared on Sindh Courier.