ISLAMABAD: Dr Shahida Rehmani, who is chairperson of the Women Parliamentary Caucus, on Wednesday emphasised the importance of empowering women to speak on their own issues.

She was speaking to participants, mostly women from 130 districts, who gathered in the capital for the 17th Annual Rural Women Leadership Training Conference organised by the Potohor Organisation for Development Advocacy (Poda).

The event brought together women from all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir to amplify their voices and push for education, equality and stronger legislation on key issues affecting rural communities.

Shahida Rehmani committed to proposing October 15 as ‘National Rural Women’s Day’ at the policy level.

The conference, attended by representatives from 150 community-based organisations, provided a platform for women to address critical challenges like gender-based violence, sexual harassment and the need for greater educational access.

Emphasising Article 25-A of the Constitution, which guaranteed education for children aged five to 16, participants called education a vital safeguard against gender violence.

A key demand voiced by the rural leaders was the recognition of agriculture fields as workplaces. This move, they said, would ensure that women farmers receive their fair share of government support and services, such as loans and subsidies.

During the event, Deputy Speaker of the Balochistan Assembly Ghazala Gola shared the situation in Sohbatpur, where women often lack an independent identity. She announced her party’s effort to raise the minimum marriage age for girls from 16 to 18 through a new bill in the provincial assembly.

The first strategy session of the day, titled ‘Women’s Rights Commitments in Political Parties’ Manifestos 2024’, brought together women politicians from PPP, ANP, PML-N, JWP and JI.

Senior parliamentarian and PPP senator Farhatullah Babar described the conference as a significant intellectual forum that should not be ignored. Women political workers called for immediate local government elections, demanding proportional representation and full functionality of local bodies.

In the second session on raising the legal marriage age to 18, Norwegian Ambassador Pur Albert Ilsaas addressed participants, noting the positive energy and inclusivity of the conference.

He emphasised that empowering women and increasing their participation in society could help Pakistan tackle many of its pressing challenges.

The ambassador reaffirmed his country’s commitment to collaborating with Poda on reducing early marriages and supporting sexual and reproductive health rights.

Legal experts, including advocate Khawaja Zahid Nasim, discussed gaps in existing laws, while Advocate Noureen Mumtaz Chattha presented Islamic perspectives supporting legal reforms in Punjab.

The conference was supported by the European Union Delegation to Pakistan, the Norwegian embassy and several local organisations, reflecting a broad commitment to advancing women rights and leadership across the country.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2024