It is not a secret that women get unequal treatment in the Pakistani society. Their rights are infringed, their labour is not recognised, and they are underpaid.
The enlightened class, mostly students, who take interest in social and political issues have now started to raise their voice for women rights.
Last year when the poster of Aurat March was released, it received lots of comments, ranging from sexists jokes to rape threats.
Despite the overwhelming backlash, the Aurat March will be organized on the 8th March of 2020. This time here is what they are fighting for.
Economic Justice:
The exploitation of women working in formal and informal industries should be liberated from capitalistic exploitation. Also, a safe working environment as per the workplace act 2010 should be ensured by providing a harassment-free environment.
Environmental Justice
Apart from women rights, they also demand protection for animal rights, clean drinking water, and recognization of women role in the production of food.
Accountability against violence
The activists demand an immediate end of gender-based violence against women and minorities in the online and offline world.
There should be strong accountability against the state repression against women and transgenders. Moreover, they demand strong implementation of anti-harassment laws in workplaces to make offices and public spheres a safe place for suppressed genders.
Police brutality
Police reforms acts should be implemented to curb the abuse of power by state institutions. The activists also stand in solidarity with the victims of police brutality like the family of Naqeebullah Mehsud or Sahiwal massacer.
Enforced disappearances
The state should immediately halt the unlawful practice of abducting people unlawfully as it is the gravest violence of human rights. Women have also been disappeared and a huge number of families have suffered because of the state violence.
Inclusion
The public spaces should be made friendly for disabled people, their efforts should be recognized. People with less visible disabilities like chronic and mental illnesses should be recognized and victims should be accommodated.
Reproductive justice
They petition the government to amend the Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929 and the minimum age should be raised from 16-18.
The women and suppressed gender should have total autonomy over their bodies and quality reproductive and sexual health facilities should be made accessible to women and genders.
Access to public space
They demand safe access for women in public space and streets for their social and political activities. They also demand affordable and inclusive public transport and clean public toilets for women.
Furthermore, there should be no moral policing against women.
Anti-war
They believe that war is a business and no one wins except corruption, and it further strengthens hatred and masculinity that deeply divides society. Moreover, they argue that the Kashmir issue is deliberately created by the stakeholders of power for their vested interests.
Kashmiris should be given the right for self-determination and the violence of the state and non-state actors should be condemned. As feminists, they denounce warmongering, militarization, and politics of destruction – they will keep their activism against it.
