(March 10, 2010) Church workers in Pakistan have demanded equal rights for women
from minority communities who are largely ignored for being poor and non-Muslim.
Several Church-run seminars highlighted the plight of women to mark International
Women’s Day around the country on Monday. Speakers urged participants, mostly Christian
women, to raise their voices against prejudice and discrimination in a male Muslim-dominated
society. “The sufferings of minority women seem unending. Many Christian housemaids
are raped and killed and their families get no justice. The situation gives little
reason and hope to celebrate,” said Sister Tomasina Rehmat. She was addressing about
150 participants at a seminar in Karachi, Sindh province. The major Religious superiors’
justice and peace commission organized the event titled Equal Rights for Women to
ensure Social Prosperity yesterday. A group of nuns started the programme with a song
highlighting the importance of women in family life. The participants sang religious
songs in local languages and prayed for strength. Later, Sister Rehmat explained
about the kidnapping of Hindu women and their conversions as a major concern in the
province. Father Inayat Bernard, executive secretary Caritas Pakistan Lahore, agrees.
“Women in interior Sindh are reported to have sold their children for 8,000 rupees
(US$ 95) due to poverty. Hindu and Christian women are more vulnerable for being women
and belonging to a religious minority,” he said.