Village women harder hit by climate enhanced burdens: Sherry Rehman

Senator’s remarks come at WOW, Women of the World, festival held in Karachi

Women, whose lives are deeply entangled with access to natural resources – like water and firewood to complete their daily chores – are harder hit by climate enhanced burdens and frustrations, said Senator Sherry Rehman at the opening ceremony of two-day Women of the World (WOW) Festival in Karachi.

Organised by the British Council at a local hotel on Saturday and Sunday, this year WOW festival’s theme was ‘Resilience, Transformation and Return’.

“As we celebrate women, we must continue to push back, disrupt and defy emerging challenges, risks and problems women face at multiple levels,” said Rehman, who is chair of Climate Change Caucus in parliament.

Women have been thrust to the forefront in dealing with the harsh realities of this rapidly changing environment, she added.

The festival’s diverse programme was reflective of Karachi’s dynamic spirit with important talks and mentoring, musical performances, dramatic readings, panel discussions, workshops, a space for young children and a market reimagined as an inclusive third space.

“Working with our team, the WOW Foundation and our phenomenal curatorial team we have put together our most ambitious programme to date, featuring nearly 100 women as well as men, across ages,” said Chantal Harrison-Lee, British Council’s director arts.

She added, “We have climate change at the heart of our work, throughout our programming and in our delivery approach and are dedicated to making WOW a climate friendly festival.”

The director of arts also said, “We really believe that if we move towards a world where gender equality is an every-day fact, it takes all of us to get their no matter your age gender, race or social standing.”

The British Council, together with the WOW Foundation, and four curating partners Dr Fozia Tahir, Entrepreneurship and Community Development Institute (ECDI), Numaish-Karachi and Olomopolo Media hosted the third WOW festival.

This year WOW Karachi also endeavoured to become an environmentally responsible festival by reducing the use of single use materials like plastic and panaflex, and working with partners for a sustainable waste management solution. This is not only in response to the prevalent issues around climate change, but also a proactive measure for future programming.

The British Council hosted the first full scale WOW in South Asia in Karachi in 2016.

WOW festivals first began in the UK in 2010, launched by Jude Kelly CBE at Southbank Centre London. WOW festivals around the world are platforms to celebrate women and girls, discuss what prevents them from achieving their potential, raise global awareness and discuss solutions to on the issues they face.

To date, WOW has reached over 2 million people in 17 countries on 5 continents with more than 60 festivals around the world.

The WOW Foundation was created by Kelly in 2018 to manage what has now become a global movement.