Women in developing countries have played an active role in challenging their unequal status by taking part in collective actions for change. In Pakistan as well as in many countries across the globe, the women's movement has been vibrant by the issues of gender violence due to the deep violation of women's rights to life, health and society within the civil society. Women activists are implementing approaches to limit gender violence through advocacy. In Pakistan women face a lot of gender prejudice due to a male dominated society, tribal systems, religious interpretations and feudal mindset.
The history of activism for women rights in Pakistan has its roots in the colonial era of the nineteenth century. The extreme discrimination faced by women increased men to state a movement for education, basic rights and to attain a better status in society for them.
Post-independence, women were given several rights, such as the right to vote, to be a part of legislature and inherent property, in order to eliminate elements of discrimination and empower women to be a part of the public sphere. The Zia era had a defining impact on the working dynamics of women's movement. The impression of women rights as human rights and violence as crime against women emerged in this time period. This movement was not found to express the purpose of addressing violence against women. The connection between violence against women and human rights became clear in context of the oppressive laws that were responsible for increased violence and constant new proposals to terminate women rights and curtail their spaces.
Unlike feminists' experiences in other parts of the world Pakistani women never had to convince the women rights movement of the need for the inclusion of women's concerns in their agenda. Rather women were among the first articulating public opposition to the Marshall Law regimes and civil society activism in the early 1980's was driven by these women activists who were among the founders of the human rights commission of Pakistan.
Through the passage of time, with the help of activists, numerous laws were established for a better status for women. These laws include among numerous:-
In Spite of all the mentioned and numerous other laws women still face discrimination. The women movement in Pakistan has noted the upper and middle class urban and educated professional status of women activists. They have been criticized as an elite group of westernized women who are out of touch with the problems facing the majority of Pakistani women. Only a small number of women could benefit the laws and policies established. For majority of women their boundaries and limitations are still shaped by the domestic environment.
1. All Pakistan women association (APWA) was established in 1949. It aimed at providing moral, social, and economic welfare for women.
2. Women Action Forum (WAF) was founded in 1981 in response to the Hadood ordinance. It focuses on strengthening women's position in society.
3. Aurat foundation (AF) was founded in 1986. It works to provide information and undertake advocacy for women issues and good governance.
4. The human rights commission of Pakistan (HRCP) was established in 1987.It has established a leading role in the struggle for the provision of human rights for all and democratic development in the country.
5. The AGHS legal cell was established in 1980 and focuses on the rights of women, children and minorities.
6. The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) was established in 2000. The NCSW examines policies, programs and measures taken by the state for women development and gender equality.
1. Rana Liaqat Ali Khan, established APWA and Pakistan women national guard (PWNG).
2. Jahan Ara Shah Nawaz and Shaista Ikram Ullah were members of the first legislative assembly of Pakistan. This first led to the Muslim Personal Law (1948), charter of women rights (1956) and the Muslim family law Ordinance (1961).
3. The following women contributed to the feminist movement in Urdu Literature.
4. Zaib-un-Nisa, a writer and journalist is considered as the pioneer of feminism in Pakistan. She served as the face of independence, professional Pakistani women and defined the role of women in the term of contribution towards society.
Although the constitution of Pakistan is for gender equality, prohibits discrimination and ensures full participation of women in all spheres of life. Women still face numerous challenges to survive in society. A report published by the Aurat foundation claimed that violence against women has increased by 4.97%. Other independent international organizations like the Thumpin Reuters Foundation declared Pakistan as third most dangerous for women. UNDP's gender inequality index Pakistan rans 145th out of 146 countries in the Global Gender Index 2024 with a score of 0.570. This represents a decline from its 142nd position in 2023, highlighting growing challenges in achieving gender parity.
There are individual contributions by numerous women in the progress of the country, but the overall status of women empowerment is unpleasant. Women have taken active part in several fields throughout history. They have been part of politics, sports, medicine, education, economy and even the armed forces.
Pakistan's media has progressed rapidly within the last decade. It has introduced a vibrant and free electronic and print media. A variety of TV, radio channels and newspapers are available to the citizens. The media has taken initiative on many issues and generated awareness on numerous subjects regarding gender discrimination. On the other hand, it is also criticized for glamorizing and presenting women as a commodity or exploiting their grievances.
Today the women's movement in Pakistan is categorized by a fragmented political freedom, with a diverse political, cultural and discrete distribution of power that enables political autonomy of women's organizations. Politically independent groups are able to search more explicitly feminist agendas. They have been able to focus more centrally on gender, especially violence.
Being independent from state and having no political affiliations leaves the organizations free to criticize injustice, failure to implement laws and pressure for action.
In Pakistan steps forward are frequently undermined by steps backward. Still resistance the violence and activism of women rights can be found in many places and many forms. A strong consensus has emerged that the outreach, educational efforts of women have resulted in challenges that are visible at micro level and more women are coming forward to claim their rights. Organizing women across class and social locations poses many challenges. The risk of arrest, stigma and family alienation that may result from public activism is more easily accepted by women who have the advantage of social and political connection to the elite class of the country. Nevertheless, normalizing women has resulted in some positivity.
For the sake of a balanced society it is needed that we understand that humans are mentally equally capable, but their fields of responsibilities are different. Men are responsible for earning while women have to manage household affairs on priority but they are also free in their decision making and earning. Investment in mass education does little to get rid of the paradoxes of gender discrimination and craving is the true perception of women status in the society. Pakistan remains grossly underinvested in education, especially in girl's education which can be considered as a basis for broad change of a society in order to decrease discrimination.
Feminism in Pakistan has raised questions about the man dominated system, in which women find themselves formally and informally excluded of power. Though it is true women have played a significant role throughout history. It is still felt that the real power still lies with men and the customs of the legally feudal and tribal culture.
