Women Protection Forum (WPF) has expressed grave concern over the increasing number of cases including rape, domestic violence and torture in police custody against women in the country and demanded to the government for protection measures.

Addressing a news conference at Faisalabad Press Club, Amina Zaman, Chairman WPF, and other NGOs leaders said that the first and foremost duty of state is to safeguard the rights and interests of women as guaranteed in the constitution of Pakistan.

They said that those women imprisoned in jails need free, fair and speedy trials.

They announced that the International day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is commemorated world-wide on 25 November.

The Day also marks the start of the 16 days of activism that lead up to Human Rights Day on December 10.

Meanwhile, the Members of Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM), Peace and Human Development (PHD Foundation), Lyallpur Development Organisation (LDO), CRC SPARC and Liaison for Enforcement of Human Rights (LEHR) jointly staged a demonstration titled "End Gender based Violence and Discrimination" to observe the international day for the elimination of violence against women.

The demonstrators strongly condemned the inhuman treatment against women, and urged the government to take steps towards protection of women's rights.

At this juncture, the demonstrators shouted slogans in support of women's rights and in opposition to gender based violence, intolerance and discrimination.

They were also holding placards and banners criticising laws and customary practices against women, sexual harassment, jirga system, rape, forced abortion, women trafficking, killing in the name of honour, culture and religion, forced marriages, mutilation and acid attacks.

This demonstration was held at District Council Faisalabad, and was joined by over 80 people from different walks of life including students, lawyers, representatives of trade unions, political parties and civil society organisations namely; AWAM, LDO, PHD, POWER, NCJP, DOST, RDS and Workers Party Pakistan.

At this juncture, Naseem Anthony, Iftikhar Ahmad, Nazia Sardar, Shazia George, Arif Ayaz , Mrs Rizwana, Mrs Naseem and Mr Amir Shahzad shared their views, and expressed concerns on the situation of women in Pakistan.
The speakers discouraged the elements involved in inciting gender based hatred and violence in the society.

They lauded passage of the bill approved by the National Assembly to prevent anti-women practices, and called upon the senate to prove its commitment towards empowerment of women by approving the pro-women bill without delay.