Women Human Rights Defenders are “Agents of Change” in Pakistan

Date:

Author: Henriette Bjoerge

Islamabad, Pakistan — In recognizing the work of Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) as agents of change, and honoring their activism, advocacy and courageous acts of resistance, human rights defenders from across Pakistan gathered for a one-day congress to discuss how to improve protection of WHRDs.

Photo: UN Women/Henriette Bjoerge

The event "Protecting Women Human Rights Defenders in Pakistan" was organized by the Potohar Organization for Development Advocacy (PODA) in collaboration with UN Women and the European Union Delegation to Pakistan on 29 November in Islamabad, to commemorate International Women Human Rights Defender Day, as part of UN Women’s 16 Days of Activism to end gender-based violence.

A baseline survey conducted by Democratic Commission for Human Development on the situation of women human rights defenders in Pakistan, revealed that 48 percent of organizations working on human rights for women received threats at some point in their work. The survey further highlighted that Pakistan has always been a dangerous country for women human rights defenders, however, the situation has worsened in recent years, with 51 percent of women human rights defenders reported receiving a threat in the last six months.

With participation of 30 WHRDs from all four provinces and the Federal Capital, government officials, representatives of civil society and media partners, dialogue focused on four thematic areas - physical and personal security, digital security, networking and advocacy - and will contribute towards developing an action plan and strategies on how to tackle issues and challenges faced by WHRDs across the country.

Studies show that women standing up and defending human rights face threats, stigma and violence – not least rape and other forms of sexual abuse – more often than their male counterparts. The nature of the violations committed against them, including violence, is often a manifestation of discrimination and gender inequality. Widespread manipulative use of religion, culture or tradition to justify violations of women’s human rights obstructs women’s ability to carry out their legitimate work as human rights defenders, and has resulted in threats and attacks against them.

In opening the congress, partners of the event presented their remarks. Mr. Paul Menkveld (Chargé d’ Affairs, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) said: “You [WHRDs] are the agents of change”; Mr. Andrew Turner (Acting High Commissioner of Canada) highlighted that everybody has to get involved since “violence is not a women’s issues, it’s everyone’s issues”; and Mr. Johan Sorensen (Representative of European Union (EU) Delegation to Pakistan) explained that human rights are one of the cornerstones of the EU’s policy and expressed concern that several human rights defenders in Pakistan have been threatened and/or killed. H.E. Ms Ingrid Johansson (Ambassador of Sweden to Pakistan) said: “This matter is of great importance to Sweden. Being a defender of human rights can be a dangerous thing. Female human rights defenders face stigmatization, threat and abuse”.

Ms. Fauzia Viqar (Chairperson, Punjab Commission on the Status of Women) stated: “Women’s rights are human rights, and we must all become women human rights defenders to ensure gender equality”.

Ms. Khawar Mumtaz (Chairperson of National Commission on the Status of Women) said: "Women human rights defenders in Pakistan are actual agents of change and can uplift human rights standards in Pakistan, hence they need to network and share resources among each other more than any other group to increase their force and impact. Several women have been killed in Pakistan, and the prime example is our previous Prime Minister, Ms. Benazir Bhutto”.

Ms. Fatima Atif (WHRD from Quetta, Balochistan) shared: “People are biased, especially against non-Muslims and some against Shia-Muslims like me. The fact that I belong to the Hazara community has made it tough for me. Many Hazara’s have been killed simply because of our ethnicity. If you see the Hazara graveyard in Quetta, you will understand what I am talking about - there is nothing more heart-breaking” she said. “I am a peace activist by heart, and I will not let anything stop me from celebrating our culture. Other women in my community are inspired by me and my work, and that keeps me going,” she added.

Ms. Maria Mehmood (Special Superintendent, Islamabad Police) in reaching out to the WHRDs encouraged them to report threats and incidents saying: “Maybe today’s session with CSOs and State institutions can help lower the walls that exist between us”.

Ms. Farkhanda Aurangzeb (WHRD from Lahore, Punjab) said: “I was a born activist; my parents used to say ‘she knows how to fight, so just let her’. My husband has tried to tame me with his love and care, but he has not succeeded yet and I am over 60 now!” Speaking on how to deal with threats, she shared: “I personally have never faced any threats, and I believes this is due to my strategy of positivity. I always try to defy my opponent with positive arguments; never lose my temper, keep cool and keep smiling even when I am burning inside”.

Other speakers highlighted that WHRDs usually do not put their own security at the forefront of the agenda. WHRDs and organizations were encouraged to prioritize policies and strategies to ensure security and protection of human rights defenders, especially women working in the country.

Photo Gallery

“Agents of Change”
Photo: UN Women/Henriette Bjoerge

For more information contact:

Henriette Bjoerge
Communications and Advocacy Officer
UN Women Pakistan
Email: Henriette...@unwomen.org