A seminar on the topic of "Digital Violence Against Children and Women " was organised by the University of Child Health Sciences Lahore/Children’s Hospital Lahore in collaboration with the Medical Women's Association of Pakistan (MWAP). Dr Wajiha Rizwan, President, MWAP, expressed her deep gratitude to Prof. Nasir Rana, Registrar UCHS, and Prof. Tipu Sultan, MD, Director of Children’s Hospital Lahore, for their support and valuable contributions. The session was moderated by Dr. Shehram Tabassum.
The keynote speaker, Deputy Director FIA Mr Waqas, highlighted the importance of digital hygiene, responsible posting, and strategies to ensure the safety of personal data online. The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Lubna Riaz
Among the panellists, Prof. Nasir Rana emphasised the crucial role men must play in empowering women rather than making them dependent within the family. Prof. Nabila Talat stressed the need for strong laws, proper policy implementation, and effective monitoring of social media use, especially among children. Prof. Rubina Sohail shared real-life cases of women and girls who have been exploited or abused, underscoring the importance of training health professionals in early detection and reporting. Prof. Shamsa Humayun highlighted the significance of responsible internet use and advised sharing personal information only with trusted family members.
Dr. Wajiha Rizwan, emphasized that silence only strengthens perpetrators. She encouraged victims to break their silence and noted that just as social media can be misused to harass, it can also serve as a powerful tool for revolutionary support. Prof. Shakila Zaman, Guest of Honour, stressed the importance of collecting evidence and called for moving beyond mere observation to generating research-based data to inform recommendations.
Prof. Tipu Sultan, the Chief Guest, praised this timely initiative and assured full support for advocacy on the digital safety of children in Pakistan from UCHS.