DIGITALLInnovation and Technology for Gender Equality on International Women’s Day
Islamabad(peak point) Inspire Pakistan led the “International Women’s Day” celebrations at the Urban Cohesion Hub, Rawalpindi on 8th March 2022 by highlighting the contributions that the refugee and host community women have made by coming together and learning from one another in field of digital technology learning.
The event kicked off with inspiring welcome note from Mr. Qaiser M. Siddiqui, CEO & Co-founder, Inspire Pakistan who highlighted the role women have played in society and how their work has had a transformative impact in the communities. He further expressed that the founder of Pakistan Mr. Muhammad Ali Jinnah who in his political struggle brought her sister Fatimah Jinnah along with him at all platforms and demonstrated that how women can work side by side with men. He further added by calling on government, activists and the private sector to power on in their efforts to make the digital world safer, more inclusive and more equitable.
Country Representative, UNHCR Pakistan Ms. Noriko Yoshida in her key notes thanked the partners and donors in Pakistan for raising awareness for gender equality, gender base violence and women empowerment. She added further by congratulating the students who participated in Digital Photography course conducted by the Inspire Pakistan, and 360 Technologies. Further, the students present at the event shared their success stories to learn more in the field of innovation and digital technology.
Zahra Khalid, Project Manager Inspire Pakistan, emphasized on digital education for every Afghan Refugee girl or woman by stating that no one shall be left behind. She focused on girl/women education, health and well-being of all at the Urban Cohesion Hub. She conducted, organized and moderated the event till its end.
Ms. Syma Nadeem Convener SDG7/ former Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, added in her speech by thanking Inspire Pakistan and UNHCR Pakistan for putting efforts for a great cause of helping women and children. She said that Pakistan is committed to UN in 2015 tried to achieve one of the goals amongst the SGDs 2030 i.e. women development and gender equality. Specifically, she added about goal number 7 i.e. women role in renewable energy development without which no other development is possible. When she took up the goal, her focus was on women to empower them in this field. After taking this challenge she wants to empower women in this field as in Pakistan there are many barriers for women but going through all those barriers by giving education and training to women to go hand in hand through which they achieve many targets by making women the part of renewable energy development.
Mr. Brig (Retd) Munawar Hussain, CEO Inducting & Chief Technical Officer 360 technologies shed light on the importance of digital trainings and skills for women and children in today’s world. He stated that nowadays it’s easy access this technology through trainings and acquiring skills. He applauded Inspire Pakistan and UNHCR for choosing this particular training for students representing afghan refugees and host communities.
The celebration was attended by members from UNHCR, US embassy and non-profits. Foreign Dignitaries including Deputy Refugee Coordinator US Embassy Ms. Paola Weise and Dr. Arif Oryakhail, Coordinator Health, Humanitarian, migration for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. In the end of the event certificates were distributed amongst the students who completed three months Digital Photography course.
