Dr. Kaiser Bengali

Aurat Foundation is among the very few non-governmental organizations that can claim successes in terms of lasting social and political impacts. And in many ways, its accomplishments can be credited to its strategic approach and data-based advocacy work with communities as well with various levels of government.

My own involvement with Aurat Foundation dates back to the 1990s with its Legislative Watch program; limited to participating as a resource person in workshops and seminars. Dragging the same subject across the country from Hazara to Karachi, plastering power point screens with data and statistics to support women’s greater participation, seemed like an endless task. But success did come by and I can recall two of them. One was post-2000, when the military government was looking to show the world of its ‘liberal’ credentials. A search was on for a formula to expand women’s participation in elected bodies – and Aurat Foundation has several drafts ready! The second was local bodies elections in Karachi in 2002. The particular constituency was composed of two ethnic groups; one of which declared that their women would not be allowed to vote. Aurat Foundation representatives lobbied the said group and convinced them that if half their votes were not to be cast, the other group would win hands down. The logic sank in and the group leaders brought out their women to vote, including some on wheelchairs! Both of the above are tangible victories for women’s rights and Aurat Foundation can claim full credit for them.