March 8, the International Women’s Day, is observed every year to acknowledge women’s struggle for the achievements of their rights and to reiterate their resolve to fight for their equal rights. Women throughout the world have struggled for their right to suffrage, right to education and right to choose.
Centuries after centuries women have been fighting to be recognised and acknowledged as equal, an egalitarian society where fairer sex is given equal opportunities to grow and flourish is an uphill task and requires empowering girls and women to stand up for themselves. Courtessy from Pakistantoday.com.pk
The state of women can only be improved on the basis of promotion of education, greater participation in politics and widespread awareness about social, economic and political issues. Professional and financial liberty can further improve the state of women. The state must play its active role in ensuring equality as envisaged in the constitution. The year 2016 has had an auspicious and inspiring start for women in Pakistan. The Punjab assembly unanimously passed the Protection of Women against Violence bill on February 25, while two Pakistani women were internationally recognised for their outstanding work: film maker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy won her second Oscar for her documentary on honor killings, and Nergis Mavalvala was part of the team who detected gravitational waves, a critical scientific discovery of our time. The extraordinary journey of these extraordinary women began from aland that is marred by internal strife and conservatism, yet these brave women proved themselves by defying all odds and making their mark
Being the second most dangerous country in the world for women, it takes immense strength and courage to break through Pakistan’s social barriers and glass ceiling. Pakistani women have fought a long battle to win the rights guaranteed under the Constitution, and yet they are still relegated to being second class citizens. Uneven socioeconomic development means that while there has been gradual improvement in the general status of urban women, the social and economic gender gap is increasing in rural areas. Many of Pakistan’s cultural and religious practices pose a huge threat to women, particularly child and forced marriage, acid attacks, honor killing and denial of education.
The lack of education is a major hurdle faced by many girls; the female literacy rate is 48% as compared to 70% for males. Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai, who has inspired many girls and others to fight for the right to female education, is antagonized by the country’s orthodox and conservative clergy. Women who wish to empower themselves have always faced backlash, be it by studying, working or even choosing a spouse for themselves.
The movement for women empowerment can be traced back to before partition, when Ms. Fatima Jinnah fearlessly led thousands of women to stand up for their well-being. In 1949 the All Pakistan Women’s Association (APWA) was founded by Begum Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan, wife of Pakistan’s first prime minister, aiming to further the moral, social and economic standing of women across the country. Similarly, the Women’s Action Forum (WAF) was established in September 1981, lobbying and advocating on behalf of women without the resources to do it themselves. The WAF publically opposed the unjust rulings passed under the Hudood ordinance during General Zia’s era. The WAF has successfully enabled many women-friendly bills such as the Criminal Law Amendment Act (2004), the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill, the Criminal Acid Act, the Protection of Women Act, the Status of Women Bill and regulations condemning honour killings and other vices faced by women.
There is no dearth of strong women who paved the way for their contemporaries to follow, women such as Parween Rehman, murdered by land mafia for fighting for the right to accommodation for the poor. Women who inspire others to scale new heights and carve a niche for themselves, like Pakistan’s first women mountaineer, Samina Baig, who climbed Mount Everest. Despite clinching many firsts in the country’s history, Pakistani women cannot escape the stigma of rebellion; Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy was criticized for maligning Pakistan in the international forum. It is unfortunate that such critics are unable to understand that highlighting the underbelly of a country is not equivalent to being a traitor.
Women’s day is an occasion for women to look back on past struggles and accomplishments, to reaffirm striving for equality, and to look ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women. At the same time, the day itself can hold little significance in a country where women suffer honour killing for exercising the right to choose their spouse. According to statistics from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, 1000 cases of honour killing were reported in 2014, with many cases going unreported. The unimaginable atrocities meted out to these women are never prosecuted by the state. Violence against women perpetuates precisely due to the lack of action taken against perpetrators, and the denial of redress to victims. The attitudes of justice institution officials, most of whom are male, are also unfavourable to women who seek justice.
Though the country is witnessing a surge in legislation meant to uplift the social and economic state of women, mere promulgation of law is not enough. In a country where the literacy rate is dismal as per UNESCO’s report titled “eAtlas of gender inequality in education” almost 16 million girls between the ages of 6 and 11 are currently out of school, expecting the status of women to be elevated just by promulgation of law is wishful thinking.
Until the Pakistani government and society takes up their responsibility to uplift the status of their mothers, daughters and sisters, 51% of Pakistan’s population will continue to suffer from discrimination, violence and inequality. The state must play an active role to ensure that women are able to realize the rights enshrined in Pakistan’s constitution, and to honour the remarkable women who have played their part in breaking barriers and living up to their potential.
