Women Empowerment: Breaking Down Barriers and Promoting Accountability
Venue: Lahore
8 March 2023

Transparency International Pakistan in collaboration with Working Women Development Foundation organized a seminar/community dialogue on International Women Day, 8^th March 2023 in Lahore. The topic of the seminar was Women Empowerment: Breaking Down Barriers and Promoting Accountability.

A total of 64 participants including 61 females attended the session. It was a women-based program, so most of the participants were female. The program started with the recitation of the Holy Quran. Then Ms. Shakeela from Working Women Development Foundation welcomed the guest and audience in the seminar. She spoke the importance of International Women Day and why it is celebrated.

Then Mr. Ashfaque Ahmed, the representative from TI Pakistan gave a detail introduction of TI Pakistan, and its working to elevate the status of women in the country. He briefly described past projects executed by TI Pakistan which benefited many women.

Ms. Abida Naeem, a women’s rights activist, addressed the audience about their rights. She spoke about how women are often neglected despite their untiring efforts and involvement in building up a society. She encouraged women to keep working despite such challenges and to contribute towards nation-building. She said that the seminar was a great opportunity to bring together women from different backgrounds and discuss issues related to women’s empowerment. Such events play a vital role in creating awareness and promoting gender equality in the country.

Advocate Ishaque gave her speech about women legal rights. He told the history of women rights and the importance of 8 March. He educated them about their property rights, voting rights, and the right to education.

In the end, a question and answer session was started. Women asked some questions, and gave their option about the session. In the end, Ms. Shakeela, appreciated TI Pakistan efforts to organize such an event.