LAHORE: The Aurat Foundation, SAP-PK, SPO and Sangi together under the banner of Aawaz launched a campaign of stopping violence against women.

Aurat Foundation regional director Mumtaz Mughal said that this campaign differed greatly from the annual few days of antiviolence observed in that the campaign was `lifelong` and was to be spread actively all over 45 districts of both Punjab and KP.

`Every year when we collect data we see that all over the country over 7,000 cases occur where women are being abused in different ways. And these do not even always include cases of domestic violence,` she specified. `At least 90 per cent of the households in Pakistan are involved in some kind of domestic violence.

Renowned writer Munnu Bhai said the problem of proving `manhood` in the society was the root cause of violence against women and also of not accepting them as equals.

`Every human being should be a friend, a companion and a helper to the other human being.

Women are thought of as weak and helpless but in the long run have been much stronger even than men in most cases.

He said many womenwere repeatedly denied their right to economic independence and it was unfortunate that over 10pc of women in a city like Lahore were still not working.

Social Welfare Department Minister Hameeda Waheeduddin said the government and the Punjab Assembly were trying their best to bring out laws that could help in protecting women. `This abuse is not part of our culture and we must together condemn it on all accounts,` she said. `It is a crime.

MPA Faiza Malik said the message of anti-violence could be sent through the entertainment media best through dramas especially. `When the laws implementation becomes better then the real effect of the laws will be seen. But till our mentality as individuals change even the laws will not matter until then.

Salman Abid said the progress could not take place till both men and women were involved in it.

He said that even besides violence against women, general violence too was rampant in society, and there needed to be a sociopolitical upheaval and violence in general should be condemned by all and sundry.

Women`s crises center chairperson Abida and social welfare department director Muhammad Salman also spoke.