Abia Akram

It is with deep appreciation and solidarity that STEP acknowledges Aurat Foundation’s pioneering leadership in advancing inclusive, rights-based advocacy in Pakistan. “Nothing About Us Without Us” for the first time in Pakistan, this principle has truly moved from slogan to practice, and Aurat Foundation has led this shift with conviction, credibility, and courage.

Through meaningful engagement with marginalized communities, particularly women and persons with disabilities, Aurat Foundation has set a new benchmark for participatory development and feminist leadership. By centering lived experiences in policy dialogue, program design, and institutional reform, AF has demonstrated what genuine inclusion looks like transformative, accountable, and rooted in dignity.

STEP values this principled partnership and applauds Aurat Foundation for translating inclusive values into action. We look forward to continued collaboration in strengthening rights-based frameworks where voices are not only heard but shape the solutions themselves, ensuring that no policy, program, or reform is conceived without those it is meant to serve.