News - Aurat Foundation

AF delegation attended CSW’s 58th session (10-21.3.2014)

Mr. Naeem Mirza, COO Aurat Foundation and Ms. Simi Kamal, COP, Gender Equity Programme, were part of a delegation from Aurat Foundation that participated in the 58th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), 10-21 March, 2014, in New York City. The ten day session dealt with Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and the way forward post 2015. The delegates worked with the Pakistan Mission and also with Women’s Learning Partnership, an NGO of global women activists including women from many Muslim countries.

The AF delegation supported the Pakistan Mission in the official sessions by providing information and inputs from the global women’s caucus. It also participated in 2 seminars organized by the Pakistan Mission where members of the Punjab government presented the recently introduced women’s package and other steps being taken for the empowerment of women in the province. The AF delegation also worked closely with the Chairperson for NCSW in her role within the Pakistan Mission through two seminars and her other activities.

Mr. Mirza was a featured speaker on one of the seminars organized by the Women’s Leading Partnership. Ms. Kamal also spoke at this seminar. The AF delegation interacted daily with the women’s caucus and gave inputs in several sessions, workshops and roundtables organized by NGOs.

AF delegation attended CSW’s 58th session (10-21.3.2014)

Celebrating International Women’s Day 2014 with domestic female workers

Gender Equity Program (GEP) of Aurat Foundation Lahore office, in collaboration with Asavari Development Organization, arranged an event, on March 16, 2014, with the domestic female workers of Mariam Nishat Colony to celebrate International Women’s Day.

GEP team, domestic female workers of the colony, staff of Asavari Development Organization and volunteers from domestic workers’ group of Gujranwala attended the event.

Hasna Cheema, Deputy Program Manager GEP, briefed the audience on the history and work of Aurat Foundation. She also provided a quick introduction of Gender Equity Program, with reference to its work being implemented in Punjab region. She highlighted the initiatives of GEP’s recent cycles in which the Gender Based Violence (GBV) survivors were provided with the facilities of shelters, help lines for psycho-social counseling and referrals and opportunities of economic rehabilitation.

Sumera Saleem, Senior Program Officer GEP, explained the objectives of the event. She highlighted the importance and significance of March 8 – International Women’s Day for women’s rights across the world.

Domestic female workers of the colony shared that they alone carry the economic burden of their families and also observe customary practices set by the society. They said that the employers exploit their rights lack of awareness on their rights and supporting laws. They also shared the issues of low wages against their services. Sexual harassment by the employers is the major problem faced by domestic female workers which needs to be addressed properly on priority basis.

Aster Anjum, focal person from Asavari Development Organization, gave the introduction of Asavari and shared the nature of work being done.

Towards the end, a small group from domestic female workers presented a theatre play, titled ‘Khud Ko Badlo To Zamana Badlay Ga’. They highlighted the major problems of low wages for their services, accusation of theft and sexual harassment by employers in their performance. They also emphasized upon the need to change societal attitudes.

103rd International Women’s Day Celebrated

President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain stressed on collaborative efforts by the government and civil society to change social mindset that hinders the effective implementation of pro-women laws.

He was speaking at an event jointly organised by Aurat Foundation and Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights, and UN Women to celebrate 103rd International Women Day (IWD) on Saturday, March 8, 2014, at Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA). Civil society activists from all parts of the country and people from all walks of life participated enthusiastically in these activities and expressed their resolve to continue their struggle for equal status of women.

President Mamnoon Hussain said that the government is committed to provide all support to women and realise that there could be no development without women participation in development. “We want women to become active part of mainstream economic activities. Side by side, I will advice women of my country to respect their identification as a Muslim and as a Pakistani.” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Senator Pervaiz Rasheed said the main hurdle in the empowerment of women is the patriarchal structure of the society which portrays men as rulers. “The pro-women legislation is there. Civil society is also putting in all effort. The only missing link is the will of people to grant space to their women and have faith in them,” he pointed out. He gave the example of Prime Minister Youth Loan scheme. He said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif gave 50 per cent share of the scheme to women but in response, less than 2 per cent of applications were received from women.

Ms Khawar Mumtaz, Chairperson National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) demanded the government to declare Women Home Based Workers as labors. “It will increase our ratio of women participation in labour market which is one of the lowest in the region,” she said. Barrister Zafarullah, Federal Secretary for Ministry of Law and Justice, said that protection of women rights is the priority of the government. He said the government respects its international commitments with regard to women and children and planning to introduce special cells at federal and provincial level to monitor the implementation of international commitments.

Dr Masuma Hasan, President Boad of Governors, Aurat Foundation, demanded of the government not to compromise women on rights during peace talks with Taliban. Another major event was organised in the evening where civil society kept its tradition of organising a rally which started from China Chowk and ended at Parade Choke in front of the Parliament House where participants made speeches and presented their Charter of Demand.

Rallying on International Women’s Day

The rally was organised by EVAWG alliance in collaboration with IHI, CRM, WAF and FADAN networks.

A statement issued at the rally demanded of the government to repeal all discriminatory laws, ensure the enforcement of existing pro-women laws and approve the pending pro-women legislation in all provinces including Fata, Pata, GB & AJK.

It pointed out that after 18th Constitutional Amendment (2010), there is an urgent need for strengthening the national and provincial women’s entities, especially the National Commission on the Status of Women and establishment of Provincial Commissions on the Status of Women. The statement also demanded 33 per cent minimum representation of women in the Local Government System at all tiers.

The statement also demanded of the government to strengthen the criminal justice system through sensitisation of the law enforcement agencies on attitudinal change in dealing with cases of violence against women and girls (VAWG) and revision of the rules and procedures of police investigation and prosecution. It suggests the government to strengthen the gender crime cell and increase the number of women in the police force.

The statement urged the government to eliminate unconstitutional, illegal, unjust, traditional “adjudication” councils, called ‘jirgas’ and ‘punchayats’ and termed them women/girls and develop a National Policy and Strategy on Ending Violence against Women and Girls, from prevention to rehabilitation phases besides adopting holistic, comprehensive, strategic and well-resourced action to ensure the safety and protection of women human rights defenders and justice for those killed.

Minister for Women’s Development, Balochistan, visited Aurat Foundation Quetta office

Minister for Women’s Development, Government of Balochistan Mir Izhar Khan Khosa, visited Aurat Foundation’s Quetta office on March 4, 2014. Mr Haroon Dawood, Resident Director Aurat Foundation, Quetta, welcomed the Minister and briefed him about the goal and objectives of Aurat Foundation’s Gender Equity Programme (GEP).
Ms Saima Javaid, National Manager, MER, Aurat Foundation, shared following agenda points / demands with the minister:

1. Formation of advisory committee for Ministry of Women Development;
2. Inclusion of women parliamentarians in provincial cabinet;
3. Implementation of SOPs of Dar-Ul-Aman;
4. Establishment of Crisis Center and Dar-Ul-Aman in same premises to strengthen seamless service for the help of GBV survivors;
5. Sharing and consultation with relevant stake holders on women related resolution and bill before presenting on assembly floor;
6. Implementation and display of code of conduct of ‘The Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010’ in government departments all over Balochistan;
7. Formation of Provincial Commission on the Status of Women in Balochistan;
8. Discussion on the possibility of GEP’s non-competitive grants with Women’s Development Department (WDD);
9. Celebrating 8th March, the International Women’s Day, with women and men parliamentarians of Balochistan in provincial assembly building.

Responding to these demands, Mir Izhar Khan Khosa said that he would try his level best for the development of women in Balochistan, and for this the ministry would keep close coordination with the Aurat Foundation. He also gave commitments for introducing policies for women’s empowerment in Balochistan.
Mr Allauddin Khilji, Mr Amir Ali, Mr Lal Muhammad and Ms Fatima Tahir, from Aurat Foundation, were also present in the meeting.