- Advertisement -
ISLAMABAD, Dec 01 (APP):The Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) will host a special ceremony and the opening of a nationwide art exhibition on Tuesday, as part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign.
The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. and bring together government officials, UN representatives, artists, and civil society to spotlight the urgent need to end gender-based violence in all its forms including the rising threat of technology-facilitated abuse.
The ceremony will be chaired by Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister of Human Rights, alongside Pernille Ironside, the Acting UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan. Participants will be briefed on ongoing UN initiatives to address digital and technology-facilitated gender-based violence, a growing concern as online spaces increasingly mirror offline inequalities and risks.
Following the ceremony, PNCA will unveil ‘Seen & Unseen’, an art exhibition featuring works by 19 artists from across Pakistan.
Curated under the guidance of Prof. Salima Hashmi, Honorary Advisor, the exhibition brings together diverse mediums and artistic expressions that confront the realities of gender-based violence.
Through painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media, the artists give voice to both visible and hidden dimensions of abuse, resilience, and resistance.
The evening will also include the launch of UNFPA’s new reel series, “Salma Lives” a digital campaign aimed at raising awareness through storytelling — followed by a reception hosted by Marriott Islamabad.
Observed annually from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to 10 December (Human Rights Day), the 16 Days of Activism is a global call to end violence against women and girls.
This year’s UNiTE Campaign theme — “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls” — highlights how digital platforms, while powerful tools for empowerment, have also created new avenues for harassment, surveillance, and exploitation.
The PNCA event aims to amplify this message, bringing together art, advocacy, and public engagement in a united call to safeguard the rights and dignity of women and girls in both physical and digital spaces.