ISLAMABAD, 8 December 2006 (UN Information Centre) - The Interagency Gender and Development Group (INGAD), UN Information Centre (UNIC), Oxfam GB, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation jointly observed Human Rights Day 2006 at the National Library Auditorium in Islamabad. The theme of this year is "Fighting Poverty - A Matter of Obligation, not Charity".
The ceremony started with remarks by the Country Representative of Oxfam GB
Pakistan, Farhana Faruqi Stocker. It was followed by short remarks by the INGAD
Administrator, Najam Saighal. Prior to the prize-distribution ceremony, a group
of students presented a short skit based on a poem by legendary poet Faiz Ahmed
Faiz entitled "Fighting Poverty".
Students from the schools and colleges of Islamabad, administered by the Federal Directorate of Education, participated in the essay contest under this year's theme. A large number of entries were received from 16 schools and colleges, which represented high quality of works by students.
The Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Sher Afgan Khan Niazi, gave prizes to the winners of the essay contest. The first prize was presented to Rahila Mumtaz of the Islamabad Model College for Girls, F-6/2. Sadaf Jamil of the Federal Government Margalla College for Women in F-7/4 and Ahmed Mursaleen of the Islamabad Model College for Boys in G-10/4 received the second and third prizes respectively. Five other students received certificates of merit.
The prize-presentation ceremony was followed by a performance of renowned artist Sheema Kermani. Her mesmerising performance highlighted the need to stand up to and stop violence against women. The performance was based on poet Famihda Riaz's poem "Aao ae Humwatano Raqs Karo, Raqs Karo". It also marked the end of the 16 Days of Activism on Violence against Women programme launched by Oxfam GB and its local partners across Pakistan.
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