GHALANAI, Nov 28: Speakers at a seminar here on Thursday called for protection of women rights, saying women empowerment is vital for progress and prosperity of Mohmand Agency.

Mohmand Community for Education and Development (MCED) in collaboration with Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) organised the seminar on women rights here at Government Girls Higher Secondary School.

Local schoolgirls and teachers, women activists, senior officials of the local administration and social workers participated in the seminar.

Principal of Girls Higher Secondary School Zia Begum was the chief guest on the occasion.

She said the people should act together to ensure end to violence against women and provision of rights to them under the law.

`We should raise public awareness of women rights,` she said.

Other speakers highlighted issues related to women rights with regard to participation in the progress of tribal areas and said women empowerment was essential for the development and prosperity of tribal areas.

They said recognition of women`s rights according to Islam and giving them respect were the need of the hour.

The speakers said women made over 60 per cent of the population and the tribal areas couldn`t progress without involving them in social life and bringing them into the mainstream.

They expressed concern over the growing violence against women in tribal areas and urged the administration, civil society and political and religious parties to get together for creating public awareness of the issue for corrective measures.

The speakers said the growing incidence of violence against women in the agency was a matter of concern and therefore, the government should make serious efforts to protect the rights of women and girls in Fata.