Consultative meeting: Gender coalition’s first gathering carries hope for women

Participants discuss combating gender-based violence.

ISLAMABAD:

The Gender Equity Programme (GEP), a USAID-funded initiative, held its first consultative meeting of the Pakistan Gender Coalition on Thursday. The coalition is a group of 154 civil society organisations from across the country that convenes to promote volunteerism and best practices.

The event, “Structure, Strategy, and Future Direction,” organised by Aurat Foundation, shed light on GEP’s objectives and suggestions for improving future operations. During a panel discussion, media representative Seema Tahir said the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority must encourage all satellite channels to broadcast two to three minute public service messages to promote women’s rights and development. “We have to strengthen women by changing people’s mindsets through constant reminders on television.” She added it is essential that men play a role in promoting women’s rights.

GEP Chief of Party Simi Kamal highlighted the programme’s outreach and achievement in her presentation. She expressed disappointment over the suppression of women’s rights in the country, adding that non-government organisations have managed to make major breakthroughs despite having to work through multiple obstacles.

Kamal said around 1,500 survivors of gender-based violence were provided support through a helpline and shelter. She added that GEP has facilitated 500,000 women in obtaining CNICs and has reached around 25 million people through its media initiatives including talk shows, public service messages and the cartoon series “Main aur Meray Dost.”

Several women beneficiaries took turns to narrate their tales on stage. The seminar was followed by group discussions, where participants were asked to draft a declaration including recommendations made by the gender coalition. The declaration will be presented at the event today.

With the devolution of the Ministry of Women Development and merger of the Ministry of Human Rights with the law ministry, women’s issues appear to have been put on the backburner by the government. Despite the increasing number of gender violence cases reported in the press with each passing year, the government continues to show a lack of interest in developing strategies for women’s development.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20^th, 2013.