International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
‘Trafficked Aafia is a modern day slave’
Karachi, December 02: Though the world is celebrating, the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery today but millions of people in world including Pakistan are living in slavery or slavery-like situation but the governments are not taking efforts to end this modern day slavery, said speakers of a demo here in front of Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Tuesday. The demo was arranged by Aafia Movement Pakistan in connection with International Day for the Abolition of Slavery and attended by a large number of civil society members. They termed Dr Aafia Siddiqui as a modern day salve of America, as she was trafficked along with her children and trafficking is a form of human slavery.
Speaking on the occasion, Aafia Movement Pakistan leader Dr Fowzia Siddiqui said that modern day slavery is in vogue not only in Pakistan, but the whole world. She said even in the so-called developed countries millions of people are living in slavery. She said the Pakistani woman scientist Dr Aafia Siddiqui was trafficked from Pakistan and is undergoing an inhuman detention for the crime she never committed, and such violations of human rights are nothing but modern day slavery. She said the world talks about the women’s rights, but when it is matter of Aafia the world’s conscience go asleep. The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is a yearly event on December 2, organized by the United Nations General Assembly. The Day was first celebrated in 1986.
Dr Fowzia said in the message on this day the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in the 19th century, the international community came together to declare slavery an affront to our common humanity. Today, governments, civil society and the private sector must unite to eradicate all contemporary forms of slavery, including forced labour. Together, let us do our utmost for the millions of victims throughout the world who are held in slavery and deprived of their human rights and dignity. She said they have been demanding for long not only for the rights of Aafia Siddiqui but for the human rights of the millions of victims throughout the world who are held in slavery and deprived of their human rights and dignity. She reminded that Aafia Siddiqui along with her minor children was kidnapped and trafficked from Pakistan and the kidnapping and trafficking are included in the definition of the contemporary forms of human slavery. She said not only Aafia but 21 million women, men and children are trapped in slavery all over the world. She regretted that different governments in Pakistan failed to take serious steps for the release and repatriation of Aafia and her re-union with family and children. She wondered why the national and international organizations forget Aafia Siddiqui when they talk about the women rights, family rights, and human rights issues.
Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) leader Naseem Shaikh said there is dire need to end slavery in real terms, adding though Pakistan is an independent country but in fact we are still slave of imperialism and their local agents. No real progress in society is possible till doing away with the VIP culture and political dynasties. President of Human Rights Network (HRN) Intekhab Alam Soori said despite the constriction of Pakistan give the guarantee to abolish slavery in Pakistan but millions of Pakistanis are virtually modern day salves. He said feudal lords and Waderas do not want to end the slavery and slavery-like practices in the country. He said the government does nothing but to promote and protect the VIP culture.
Shakil Shaikh, President of Pasban e Pakistan Karachi chapter said Pasban has always raised voice for the rights of oppressed people. He said in Karachi human rights condition is dismal. The police have got a free hand to harass, detain and even kill innocent people. He said the rulers treat the ordinary Pakistanis like salves and this mentality needs to be changed. He said Pasban is aimed at to give Pakistan a brave, young, patriotic, alternate political leadership and for this we are working at the grassroots level. On the occasion, the participants of the demo demanded of the government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to take serious efforts for the release and repatriation of Dr Aafia Siddiqui at the earliest.
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women Rally to release Afia
