Training Workshop: Gender and Corruption: How Empowered Women Can Aid the Fight against Corruption & Bridge Justice Gap through Awareness of their Rights and Political Participation

Training Workshop: Gender and Corruption: How Empowered Women Can Aid the Fight against Corruption & Bridge Justice Gap through Awareness of their Rights and Political Participation
District Mithi
July 18, 2023

Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) organized a one-day training workshop in partnership with Thar Education Alliance in Mithi on July 18, 2023. The primary aim of the workshop was to promote awareness about the intersection of gender and corruption, and to highlight the significant role empowered women can play in combating corruption and bridging the justice gap. The workshop also emphasized on the importance of raising awareness about women’s rights and encourage their active participation in political decision making

The training workshop was attended by 43 women including local government elected representatives, councilors, civil society organizations, female group of Champion for Change, The Citizen Foundation teachers, college students, and vocational centre trainees.

Ms. Nasreen Memon, the Gender Resource Person from Transparency International Pakistan, highlighted the profound impact of corruption on women. She explained that various unethical practices and behaviors create significant barriers for women, hindering their ability to fully access their civic, social, and economic rights. The lack of awareness, coupled with prevailing social norms, beliefs, and customs, contributes to the challenging circumstances faced by women in relation to corruption. She explained in detail different gender specific forms of corruption and their disproportionate effects on women.

She engaged the participants in Equality Wheel group exercise. Through participatory exercise, women were sensitized about healthy relationships which are based on respect, trust, and nonviolence. For instance, instead of using threats, partners would resolve conflict based on negotiation and fairness. It was discussed that gender equality is achieved through awareness of gender stereotypes, standing up against harassment, and shared responsibility.

Moving on, Mr. Bharat Kumar, Program Manager Thar Education Alliance, gave detailed presentation on Sindh Transparency and Right to Information Act 2016 with particular emphasis on its usage by women for promoting transparency and accountability. He motivated women to use RTI and demand public information to curb corruption. Mr. Kumar further discussed that corruption is increasing rapidly with a pace people cannot imagine. He encouraged participants to raise their voice and submit complaints using Right to Information Law.

Afterwards, elected representatives, Ms. Kamla Bheel, the Chairperson District Council Tharparkar, and Ms. Samtara, Vice Chairperson Municipal Committee Mithi, led an interactive session on voter education: political participation of women in national and local govt elections.

Ms. Kamla Bheel, started with her own brave story of hailing from the marginalized Bheel Community, which is a lower caste minority, and shared her remarkable journey of being elected as the Chairperson District Council Tharparkar. She shared that despite facing discouragement from her own community members when she expressed her interest in joining politics, she stood firm in her decision. With the unwavering support of her family, she focused on empowering women’s political participation. Today, her voice serves as a powerful advocate against gender biases and disparities, resonating with the cause of equality and empowerment. She encouraged other women to come forward to take part in community service, volunteering and participate in political process to make their voices heard.

Ms. Samarta, Vice Chairperson, Municipal Committee, Local Government Mithi, led a discussion on the significance of voter education. She emphasized its importance in providing valuable information to participants about eligible candidates to make informed voting decisions. Additionally, she talked about the election processes, including how to register as a voter, how to access and check voter lists, the various types of elections, and the procedure for lodging complaints. Her insightful session enhanced the participants’ understanding and capacity to engage effectively in the electoral process.

Towards the end, open discussion was held where participants asked questions from the trainers and shared their views. One female participant from minority community shared that “in everyday life, people say politics is bad and that women do not participate in politics. Due to this bad image our parents do not allow us to participate in political matters”. Another female participant from Champion for Change women group Mithi emphasized on the need for spreading awareness on the voting process.

The Elected representatives ensured the women participants of their support and encouraged them to continue working for women rights, exercise their voting rights during the election and use RTI to participate in the matters of governance.

Towards the end, participants and speakers thanked TI Pakistan for conducting training workshop on crucial topic of Gender and Corruption. They vowed to use the skills gained through the training to use in their own organizational and individual work around women rights and urge the community to use more and more RTI law.