PAKTYA - To commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, tribal elders, civil society members and provincial officials promised yesterday to join hands for eliminating violence against women in Paktya province.

“Comparing to the past years, tremendous changes have occurred in the lives of women in Paktya province, incidents of Baad (a practice of giving a woman as restitution for murder or other crime) and force marriages have reduced mainly because of our outreach activities targeting tribal elders, women councils, government officials and the common people,” said Jamila Yousafzai of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission.

Khwaja Din Mangal, a tribal elder, said the provision of equal opportunities to male and female in education, health and socio-economic activities could ensure protection of women’s rights, adding that awareness campaigns by the civil society could compliment government initiatives towards the elimination of violence against women.

Source: Awoshtoon Radio (Paktya)