WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE AND MARGINALIS ED IN PAKISTAN

Women and girls are the most vulnerable and marginalised class in the society. Women are

recognized as inferior individuals who don’t have wisdom and power to influence the society. The

patriarchal system and misogynistic class has undervalued the status of women as a leader, decision

maker and champion of society as men can be.

We can realise the status of women in our patriarchal and male-dominated society. I belong to

Baloch family where the rights of women and girls are given no considerations. Girls don’t have

right to participate in politics and decision making institutions because they are girls. Women and

girls can’t enjoy education and health rights and if young girls want to go in a local hospital for

medical check than she would have to take old age women with her because family don’t have trust

on girls or family can not consider girls as strong and brave.

Girls can’t take decision of her future and life partner and if she takes than girl is consider as the

dirtiest thing of society. She lost her respectful image and repute in the family and

Neighbourhoods.

Girls are not able to have respectful working environment in the out world. If girls work in the

factories, industries, police department, health department, education department or even in the high

profile organizations and UN agencies girls are harassed by her bosses and male officers in the

organizations.

Girls are trained at the very start of their life to obey her father, brother and uncle, to polish their

shoes to give them food, to press their clothes and remain in the four walls of house.

I am working as a policy and advocacy manager with international organization in Pakistan RMCNH

project where women and girls’ empowerment is at the fore front of advocacy agenda. Advocating

for the reproductive and health and nutrition rights of women and women participation in policy

planning and decision making in Pakistan.

I have keen interest and passion to work for women and young girls’ empowerment so that they can

live their life as men are living. There must have dignity and equity and equality for women and girls

in every spheres of life. I am passionate toward women’s political and economic empowerment.

Women’s political participation is the need of today’s era if we want successful society and if we

want educated generations that we have to ensure the social, political participation of women.

I ever involved in “shake up” organizations and institutions, helping them to see gender and

particularly Gender mainstreaming in a new way, by tearing down old structures and outdated ideas

and building cultures of equality. I can say that women and particularly young girls’ empowerment is

very important if we want to see a just and peaceful society.

The districts, provincials and national government should divert and focus their considerations for

empowerment of women and girls towards their political, social, economic, health and education

rights. Districts and provincial government must incorporate women and girls empowerment and

women friendly strategies’ within their provincial programs, strategies and policies.

Today, access to government services particularly primary and reproductive health services

providing institutions is challenge for women and girls living in rural, coastal and tribal areas. There

are certain social and cultural barriers and constraints imposed by misogynistic mind set of some of

dominated and influential group of men.

There are certain problems for young girls at work places either it is government, nongovernment,

development and private sector. Districts provincials and national government should implement

Sexual harassment ordinance 2010 with outreach activities and wider mass awareness raising

interventions within the government services providing institutions and attached departments.

**Author is women rights activist and independent social analyst; currently working with

international consulting management firm which is based in UK. **