Capacity Building Workshop: Strengthening Women’s Voices Through Awareness of Their Rights and Social Accountability Tools
Venue: District Abbottabad, Hazara Division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Date: November 20, 2024

Transparency International Pakistan, in collaboration with the Welfare Association Jared (WAJ) organized one day capacity building workshop on November 20, 2024 in Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The objective of the workshop was to raise awareness about women rights and empower them with the tools to participate in the decision-making processes. TI Pakistan is aiming to amplify women voices, enabling them to use social accountability tools, and advocate for women rights to drive positive societal change. The workshop involved a diverse group of 45 participants, comprising of CSO representatives, community members, government officials, representatives from minorities and persons with disability.

The event began with the recitation from the Holy Quran. Mr. Kamran Mushtaq, Program Manager, WAJ Organization welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of the workshop in empowering women with tools to resist corruption and become active contributors to the fight against corruption by raising voice and participating in the decision-making process. Thereafter, Ms. Nasreen Memon, Gender Resource Person, TI Pakistan led the first session to provide an overview of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Violence Against Women (Prevention and Protection) Act 2021. She explained key features of the Act and highlighted that it ensures protection of women from violence and abuse. She discussed various forms i.e. physical harm, psychological abuse, and unwelcome sexual advances, as defined in the Act. She also briefed the participants on the support through the District Protection Committee, which ensures safety, legal support, and psychological assistance for victims. She explained that although women make up half of Pakistan’s population, their rights are often ignored due to limited participation in decision-making, resulting in abuses such as physical violence, violation of their rights and other ill practices.

Moving on, Ms. Hina Khan, Advocate Peshawar High Court delivered a comprehensive presentation on The Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act 2010. She focused on the barriers women face in social and professional life, particularly harassment, which is one form of gendered corruption. She explained that the Act aims to create a safer workplace by protecting women from any form of harassment. She emphasized that under the Act, inquiries must begin within three days of a complaint, and strict penalties, including financial compensation or dismissal, are enforced if the accused is found guilty.

Next, Ms. Shafqat, Director Social Welfare Department, Abbottabad spoke on the topic “Amplifying Women Voices through Leadership and Representation”. She discussed the progress made in empowering women in the Hazara Division and the cultural challenges that still hinder women full participation in decision-making. She called for more efforts to equip women with the tools and knowledge necessary to be strong leaders and advocates for their rights at both the local and national levels.

Afterwards, Ms. Nasreen Memon led a session on the Gendered Dimension of Corruption and introduced social accountability tools such as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information (RTI) Act 2016. She explained how the RTI Act ensures citizens’ right to access public records without needing to justify their requests, promoting transparency in government operations. She also discussed the Whistleblower Protection Act and its importance in enabling individuals to report corruption without fear of retaliation. Ms. Memon emphasized the importance of these laws in ensuring accountability and transparency in both public and private sectors.

During the interactive session on Whistleblower Protection, participants worked in groups to analyze five case scenarios where the Whistleblower Protection Act could be applied. They discussed various situations, including cases involving teachers, healthcare workers, corporate employees, government officials, and NGO workers. Each group presented their proposed solutions and discussed how whistleblowers could be supported, especially women. The participants also discussed on how women can lead advocacy campaign for enforcement of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Whistle Blower Protection and Vigilance Commission Act, 2016.

The session concluded with a presentation about Transparency International’s Advocacy Legal Advice Centre (ALAC). Ms. Memon informed the participants that the center provides free legal advice to individuals, especially women, and helps refer cases to the relevant bodies for redress. The participants were encouraged to use the resources available to them to advocate for gender equality and accountability in their communities.

At the end of the workshop, the participants expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions on gender equality, social accountability, and women’s empowerment. They acknowledged the importance of these laws in protecting women’s rights and were motivated to take action in their communities to advocate for positive change. Many expressed a deeper understanding of their rights and felt empowered to participate in decision-making processes that affect their lives.