International Women day is every year celebrated to acknowledge the socio-economic, cultural and political achievements of women. This year UN theme is “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.” The theme celebrates the incredible efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual University of Pakistan has also a tradition to celebrate this day every year. In this regard the Department of Sociology and the Department of Psychology, Virtual University of Pakistan in collaboration with Institute of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab conducted a webinar 2nd March, 2021 at 11.00 am.

The objectives of the Webinar were:

• To highlight the physical and mental health challenges that women deal with, during the pandemic and to see how women leadership comes forward to deal with these challenges.
• To explore the areas of social responsibilities of the civil society and community sensitization dealt by the voluntary sector during COVID-19.
• To analyze the situation and role of women specifically in dealing with the issue of marginalized women, especially minorities, during pandemic in Pakistan.

Speakers

• Dr. Somia Iqtedar
  Associate Professor, Kind Edward Medical University
  General Secretary Pakistan Society for Internal Medicine
• Prof. Dr. Rafia Rafique
  Director Institute of Applied Psychology
  University of the Punjab Lahore
• Mr. Irfan Mufti
  Deputy Executive Director
  South Asia Partnership, SAP-PK
  UN Women Civil Society Advisory Group Member
• Ms. Mary James Gill
  Ex-Parliamentarian
  Women Minority Right Activist