engaging & empowering citizens for a sustainable future
Empowering Women:
Pakistani society is largely governed by a conservative and feudalistic mindset. Despite some progress in the past few years, particularly symbolic acts such as increase in the number of seats for women in national, provincial and local parliaments, women and girls in Pakistan remain one of the most vulnerable and discriminated-against group.
Officially only about 37 of the female population is literate. Additionally, because of lack of technical training, women face discrimination at workplace as well, usually earning far less compared to their male colleagues.
Considered as the symbol of “ family honour” women are mostly confined to the four walls of the house. Disobeying or defiance of family rules invites harsh and brutal punishments such as physical violence, torture, and at times death.
Essentially, economic dependence renders women vulnerable, and exposed to all kinds of injustices at home and outside. Many of them also fall victims to the centuries’' old traditions and evil customs such as honour killing, Swara (bride money), watta satta (bride trade between two families) vani (young girls are forcibly married off in order to resolve the feuds between different clans) etc.
Voicing their grievances publicly, therefore, becomes yet another challenge in a socially repressive and conservative environment for most of the women in Pakistan.
PEAD strongly believes in educating and empowering women and considers their participation in the public life imperative for growth.