Women, allies take to Karachi’s streets to demand an end to patriarchy
The 2nd Aurat March was held at the Frere Hall on the occasion of International Women’s Day
PHOTO: SITARA ARSHAD
KARACHI:
Hundreds of women, transgender and non-binary persons took to the streets of Karachi on Friday, calling for an end to gender-based violence and discrimination while celebrating womanhood and gender equality.
The event, organised by Hum Aurtein, was the 2nd annual march for women's rights held on the occasion of the International Women's Day on Friday.
The idea
Minahil Baloch, a young activist, said she had come to the march to highlight the issues facing the Baloch people and voice the concerns of the families of missing persons that were not being taken up by the mainstream media.
Human rights
Bindya Rana, a transgender activist, spoke of her struggle for the rights of the transgender community. Addressing the participants, Rana recalled that when she had first ventured out to speak about the issues facing transgender persons back in 2012, she was called all sorts of derogatory names and questioned on the importance of standing up for transgender rights. "Wait and watch, when we [transgender folks] will get together, we will leave no space that men occupy," she had told them.
The power of social media this International Women’s Day
Representing the Christian community, Pastor Ghazala Shafeeq said that she had come to the march to speak out against oppression and violation of women's rights. The situation of rights of minority women is an even more appalling state, she said, adding that even though the law had set the legal age of marriage at 18 years, minor girls belonging to religious minority communities were still being abducted and forced to convert and marry against their will. "They are presented in the court by the police and announced that she has converted of her own will," she lamented. "The judges and courts remain silent because the girl belongs to a religious minority group. The law of the land itself remains oblivious of her plight," she added.
Police jump the bandwagon
Addressing the event, Dr Imam paid tribute to the women police officers for their hard work, adding that they had proven themselves and it was on a merit basis that the number of women assistant sub-inspectors was being doubled. "In Sindh, we have already increased the job quota for women in the police department from 5% to 10%," said the police chief, adding that the nation could not simply ignore the fact that no struggle could succeed without women.
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Published in The Express Tribune, March 9th, 2019.
Hundreds of women, transgender and non-binary persons took to the streets of Karachi on Friday, calling for an end to gender-based violence and discrimination while celebrating womanhood and gender equality.
The event, organised by Hum Aurtein, was the 2nd annual march for women's rights held on the occasion of the International Women's Day on Friday.
The idea
Minahil Baloch, a young activist, said she had come to the march to highlight the issues facing the Baloch people and voice the concerns of the families of missing persons that were not being taken up by the mainstream media.
Human rights
Bindya Rana, a transgender activist, spoke of her struggle for the rights of the transgender community. Addressing the participants, Rana recalled that when she had first ventured out to speak about the issues facing transgender persons back in 2012, she was called all sorts of derogatory names and questioned on the importance of standing up for transgender rights. "Wait and watch, when we [transgender folks] will get together, we will leave no space that men occupy," she had told them.
The power of social media this International Women’s Day
Representing the Christian community, Pastor Ghazala Shafeeq said that she had come to the march to speak out against oppression and violation of women's rights. The situation of rights of minority women is an even more appalling state, she said, adding that even though the law had set the legal age of marriage at 18 years, minor girls belonging to religious minority communities were still being abducted and forced to convert and marry against their will. "They are presented in the court by the police and announced that she has converted of her own will," she lamented. "The judges and courts remain silent because the girl belongs to a religious minority group. The law of the land itself remains oblivious of her plight," she added.
Police jump the bandwagon
Addressing the event, Dr Imam paid tribute to the women police officers for their hard work, adding that they had proven themselves and it was on a merit basis that the number of women assistant sub-inspectors was being doubled. "In Sindh, we have already increased the job quota for women in the police department from 5% to 10%," said the police chief, adding that the nation could not simply ignore the fact that no struggle could succeed without women.
[/fbvideo]
Published in The Express Tribune, March 9th, 2019.