Conference provides hope to oppressed women

ASMA KUNDI PUBLISHED Oct 21, 2016 06:40am

ISLAMABAD: Veiled in a black abaya, 22-year-old Iqra Saleem was paying close attention to
speakers at the rural women conference, hoping she might find solutions to the perspectives of her
father and brothers, who refuse to let her pursue a regular masters degree from any university.
Iqra travelled from Bhera, Sargodha, with many other women to attend the two day Annual Conference
on Rural Women Day in Pakistan, which was organised by the Potohar Organisation for Development
Advocacy (PODA) at Lok Virsa on Thursday.
Iqra is currently pursuing a private masters degree in English Literature from Sargodha University. She
told Dawn her brothers did not allow her to join any university, because the locals did not consider it
good.
She said she is still fighting her case with her family, adding that her own grandmother was the greatest
hurdle in changing her fathers and brothers minds.
Why would a woman create problems for another woman? If my grandmother wanted, she could
persuade my father to allow me. But Im fighting because I want my rights not just for me but for my
younger sister, who is doing her matriculation, so she does not face the same challenges to completing her
education, she said.
Iqra said the conference was a good platform for women who know their rights to get together, but the
problem is how to fight to get these rights from men in their families.
However, Yasmeen Gul from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was very enthusiastic about the conference, calling it
a game changer for many women in the province.
Our one member who attended last years conference took a stand against her husband, who was trying
to take money for marrying off her daughter at a very young age. The woman and her mother in law
finally saved her daughter from a child marriage, she said.
Bushra Tabassum from Azad Kashmir added: We come here to gain courage to fight for justice and get
out rights.
Outside the conference hall, an exhibition of crafts by women depicted Pakistans rich culture. Stalls
featuring hand embroidered apparel, fashion and home accessories, natural dye block prints, traditional
silver jewellery, wall hangings, mobile phone cases, shawls, decorative pieces and greeting cards.
A theatrical performance by the Lok Natak Group on the local government system emphasised systemic
discrimination against women by portraying women councillors who do not get to have their say.
Balochistan Assembly Speaker Raheela Durrani also spoke at the conference. She emphasised the
importance of education, recalling her parents support for her education, and said women should focus
on education and send their daughters to school. She said she had high hopes for Pakistani women, and
said they should dedicate themselves to Pakistans development.
During the conference, rural women demanded the government end all forms of violence against women,
including social, economic and societal violence.

Womens rights activists urged the government to train the police and court officials so new laws may be
implemented. They highlighted that many women face violence and the threat of homelessness, and
called on the government to make housing schemes and introduce subsidies for women-headed houses to
promote womens empowerment.
PODA Executive Director Sameena Nazir said: The most appropriate and effective way to end violence
against women is to prevent it from happening in the first place by addressing its root and structural
causes and for it, [everyone needs] to change their mindset both men and women. However, the
fundamental duty of the government is to enhance implementation of laws which protect women and
ensure efficient regulatory mechanisms to respond to the needs.
Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2016