International Women’s Day: More power to the other gender!

International Women’s Day is upon us. It is the one day of the year when the “other” gender is celebrated; when her mere presence in the country and world over is recognised. This International Women’s Day is a time for reflection; it is a time to realise the full meaning of the term gender inequality. International Women’s Day is not a day that is celebrated by feminists. Often, this day is not about a mere celebration. Instead, times such as these call for introspection.

Pakistan’s gender make-up is as diverse as Pakistan’s ethnic and religious situation. The conditions of Pakistani women vary from one location to another. They vary from one socio-economic system to another; a woman in the tribal areas experiences an entirely different life than a woman in the urban centers. Even in urban cities, the quality of life that shapes a woman is diverse; urban centers witness women ranging from fashionistas and intellectuals to prostitutes and beggars.

Last year, World Economic Forum ranked Pakistan among the worst countries in the world on its Global Gender Gap Report. Even as this International Women’s Day is being celebrated and the importance of a woman in any society of the world highlighted, a Pakistan girl will be subjected to some of the worst kinds of atrocities humankind has invented; rape, acid throwing, honour killing, forced marriage and forced prostitution.

Women’s groups across the country have complained about the government’s hesitation to take on the plight of a Pakistani woman in an attempt to bolster the country’s international image. However, the numbers speak for themselves.

Last year alone, as many as 2,713 cases of violence against women in southern Punjab alone, according to a report by Awaz Foundation Centre for Development. Many of these included walking on burning coal to prove innocence, abduction and torture after abduction, acid attacks, Panchnayat decisions and much, much more. What is even more startling is the fact that this report focused on reports from merely 15 districts and 53 tehsils. It is a startling reminder that there must be a number of unreported cases and how terrifying the overall picture could be for women in the country.

This year’s official theme by the United Nations for International Women’s Day is, “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women.”

With this promise, one wonders what measures have been taken by the Pakistani government to address women’s issues in the country – what promises were made and how many of them were kept.

Nawaz Sharif’s government was embroiled in the famous Saima Waheed scandal, due to which his government sought to implement tighter family laws to discourage love marriages, even though the Lahore High Court clearly called for amendments to the 1965 Family Laws. There were also calls by all quarters to repeal the Hudood Ordinance, especially a report by the Inquiry of the Commission for Women (1997). The report indicated that the Hudood Ordinance stood in contradiction of the fundamental rights of the woman. However, neither Nawaz Sharif nor Benazir Bhutto, who pledged undying support for the emancipation of women, sought the repeal of the Hudood Laws.

Moreover, alleviation of the women was stated as one of the 16 goals of Pakistan 2012 Program (1997). Strangely, the document failed to mention women while listing 21 areas of interest.

Much later, in 2006, General Pervez Musharraf ordered amendments to the controversial Hudood Ordinance. Later that year, some progress was seen as the parliament passed the Women’s Protection Bill, repealing several clauses of the Hudood Ordinances. However, many women’s groups criticised the bill, saying that this bill was only a show to portray progressive politics.

The present government, as it nears the completion of its term, has little to show as successes as a democratic government seeking equality and freedom for Pakistani women. President Asif Ali Zardari’s government only passed Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Bill 2009 as a notable move for the protection of women. At the same time, the current government’s failure to protect women and their education led to a gruesome attack on child activist Malala Yousafzai who is currently in the United Kingdom seeking treatment after getting shot in the head. While the government showered her with prizes and awards, they carefully neglected to recognise their failure in keeping the young girl, and countless others safe in the first place. Another failure on the part of the current government to protect the women of Pakistan was when female health workers were attacked and killed during an anti-polio vaccination campaign.

Such failures have been recognised by human rights groups, including Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). On the eve of the International Women’s Day, HRCP Chairperson Zohra Yusuf expressed solidarity with the women who were suffering due to growing violence and various forms of discrimination.

Talking to Pakistan Today, co-founder of Pakistan Feminist Watch, Nabiha Meher said, “The issue of women’s rights in Pakistan is multi-faceted and many layered. Feminism in this country is not just about seeking justice and equality for women; it is also about unifying women at all levels to seek what is rightfully theirs.”

Moreover, she said that feminism in Pakistan lacked one important component: unity between theoretical and practical work. Furthermore, she said that it was important to remember that all quarters, including the Left and the religious parties, have played a significant role in leading Women’s day all over the world and in Pakistan.

According to women’s rights activist Sonia Qadir said, “At this point, one needs to ask the important question: what is a woman? Who is she?”

She said that women of all races and ethnicities all over the world had fought their freedom and this struggle was evident from women’s movements in world history.