Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari has reaffirmed commitment to protect the rights of the women, providing them with a safe and conducive environment and ending gender-based violence. In his message on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, he also expressed the resolve to providing education and skills to women and ensuring their financial independence. According to Radio Pakistan, the President emphasized the need for raising awareness about women's rights and ending violence against them. Asif Ali Zardari said violence against women is a major human rights issue affecting one in three women globally. He said there is a dire need for urgent and collective measures to solve this problem as thousands of women lose their lives every year due to violence. The President said former Prime Minister Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was a champion of women's rights as she wanted to create a society free from exploitation and abuse of women.