Community Dialogue on Women Empowerment through Awareness of their Rights, Responsibilities, and Participation in Decision-Making Manshera KP
Event: Community Dialogue on Women Empowerment through Awareness of their Rights, Responsibilities, and Participation in Decision-Making
Venue: Tahsil Municipal Committee Hall, Manshera KP
Day & Date: Wednesday, 15 November 2023
On Wednesday, November 15, 2023, Transparency International Pakistan collaborated with the Pakistan Workers Federation to organize a Community Dialogue at the Tehsil Municipal Committee Hall in District Manshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The primary objective of the dialogue was to shed light on gender issues and disparities, advocate for women’s rights, and encourage active female participation in political decision-making. Around 50 participants, including community women, teachers, lady health workers, local government councilors, female civil society representatives, and media personnel attended the dialogue.
The event commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran. Ms. Nasreen Memon, Gender Resource Person at TI Pakistan, extended a warm welcome to the participants, affirming TI Pakistan’s commitment to addressing gender disparities, corruption, and injustice across all genders. Ms. Memon provided insight into the gendered dimension of corruption, emphasizing its adverse effects on women’s access to public services, leading to issues such as domestic and sexual violence, limited educational opportunities, and inadequate healthcare. She underscored the crucial need for women to be aware of their rights, enabling them to voice concerns against corruption and actively participate in political decision-making through voting in upcoming elections.
Ms. Uzma shared that women in Mansehra are actively aware of women’s property rights, and steps have been taken by the government of KP to enhance these rights. However, she acknowledged challenges in implementing and raising awareness about existing laws. Ms. Farheen, a lawyer and social activist spoke about the importance of Women’s Property Rights Act enacted on October 21, 2019. Administered by the social welfare, special education & women empowerment department, this act guarantees equal rights for women to inherit and own property, safeguarding them from harassment or coercion. She shared her experiences regarding cultural barriers hindering women from owning or inheriting property.
Moving on, Ms. Afshan, political activist discussed voter education and women’s involvement in politics. Stressing the crucial role women play in society, she urged them to use their voting rights to influence communities. Emphasizing well-informed voting decisions, she encouraged research on candidates, understanding their policies, and considering their track records. Ms. Afshan highlighted the importance of voter registration and urged everyone to verify their details on voter lists, know their polling station locations for the upcoming elections, and actively participate in the electoral process.
Ms. Nasreen Memon reiterated the importance of women’s engagement in the electoral process, encouraging them to stay informed and actively participate. She mentioned TI Pakistan’s Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre, providing free guidance on matters related to women’s property law, voter registration during elections, obtaining CNICs, and offering free legal advice. She also discussed in detail KP RTI Act 2013, elucidating its key provisions and method of writing RTI application.
Towards the end, Ms. Asima, a member of the Pakistan Workers Federation in Haripur District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, expressed sincere appreciation to TI Pakistan for organizing the community dialogue. They acknowledged it as a significant platform for fostering awareness about women’s rights and affirmed their collective determination to address gender-based violations and inequalities. This commitment underscores the community’s shared dedication to advancing gender equality and empowering women within their local communitiesTop of Form.Top of Form
