activism against gender based violence Against Women

To mark the 16 days of activism against gender based violence Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and Women’s Organization for Rights and Development (WORD) organized its first day event on Social and Legal Justice Through Institutions to Curb Violence Against Women.



The speakers for the panel discussion were Harris Khalique Social Activist, Nasreen Azhar Member National Commission on the Status of Women, Aqsa Khan Director Women’s Organization for Rights and Development, Mome Saleem research Associate SDPI, Dr. Abid Suleri Executive Director SDPI and Akhter Javed Community activist.



Harris Khalique reflected upon the history of women’s movement linking with the different institutional frameworks developed. Most of the existing laws reflect the post colonial impacts on State institutions framework and have an adverse impact on the poor and powerless people especially women. He further stressed on the need to bridge the gap between the affluent middle class movements and the powerless people in the country to bring about effective institutional reforms and deliverance of justice. He talked about the legal system saying that despite the revolutionary lawyers’ movement lower courts are not functioning in the required way. One of the loops that exist in the movement for rights is that much work is done on civil, political and institutional rights whereas economic social and cultural rights have been neglected. There is an inclination towards asking for amendments and repealing of laws whereas there is a need to introduce and incorporate new progressive laws for rights.



Nasreen Azhar stressed on the autonomy of NCSW to function and implement laws in favour of marginalized communities rather than taking it up as a project initiated by Ministry of Women Development. She stressed on the need to repeal blasphemy law, which is influenced by religious extremism and fanatics. She said that these religious extremists are supported by the economic powers of the world and well funded campaigns to choke the progressive movement that are working to end all sorts of discrimination against marginalized communities. While quoting an example of Afghan war she said that such situations further aggravate and reinforce the subordinate position of women.



Dr. Abid thanked all the guests and encouraged such forums and ensured SDPI’s commitment to all such movements which undermine the prevailing discrimination. There should always be a room for promotion of independent research based advocacy and opinion. That is the focus of the ongoing research undertaken by SDPI on community ownership to end violence Against Women.



Case Studies collected through this research in collaboration with UNDP have brought up the paradigms of positive masculinity and community ownership to end violence against women. One of these case studies was presented during the session where Akhter Javed shared his experience and contribution to ensure women political rights in his areas. Akhtar Javed explained how with collaborative efforts of his community fellows he helped women of Batgram to submit election papers without the will of some of the influential in the community. This indeed was a model for the community ownership where men played their role to end VAW and illustrated the nonconformity of laws and lack of accountability by the institutions.



Aqsa Khan Director WORD shared that violence against women needs to be dealt with effective institutional support to the victims seeking justice. At every level whether in the family, society, workplace violence that takes place needs to be condemned rather than condoned. The struggle for ending violence against women needs to be consistent instead of project related activities or one off events. We need to engage our youth and women actively at the community and national levels. Laws that are discriminatory and promote institutional violence should be repealed through collective pressure.



The discussion ended with a theatre performance by Bedari depicting different forms of violence and trivial attitude of society especially the law enforcing institutions. The purpose of the performance was to highlight the importance of developing and implementing progressive legislation for women.