Context

Gender equity and freedom from violence are fundamental human rights. Not only are they an essential means to improve women's lives but a pre condition for development in general.

The constitution of Pakistan (1973, articles 25 and 34) guarantees equality between men and women. International commitments of the State to protect and promote human rights include the UDHR (1948), CEDAW (1979; endorsed by Pakistan in 1996), Beijing Platform for Action (1995) and the Millennium Declaration development goals (2000). An important finding of the participatory poverty assessment of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) was that women are among the poorest and most vulnerable groups in the country. Consequently, the PRSP acknowledges that poverty reduction efforts must address gender dimensions through improving women's participation in leadership, provision of better social services, improving economic efficiency of women, and gender sensitive macro economic initiatives.

However, despite recognition, endorsement and some affirmative action there remains a significant disparity between these statements of principle and day-to-day reality. According to the Human Development Report 2003, Pakistan is ranked at 120 (of 144 countries) [1] on the Gender Related Development Index, which considers gender differentials in life expectancy, educational attainment, and income. In terms of the Gender Empowerment Measure, which takes into account economic and political participation and decision-making power, Pakistan was ranked 58 out of 70 countries [1]. High maternal mortality rates (500 per 1000 live births), marked gender gap in literacy rates (58% males, 33.5 % females), higher mortality rate for girls (e.g. in the age group 1 to 4 the rate is 66% higher than boys) [2], violence against women (80% of all women in Pakistan face some form of violence in their lives) [3] are all indicators of the grim legacy that women in Pakistan inherit.

References

[1] Human Development Report, UNDP-2000
[2] Pakistan National Human Development Report 2003
[3] Human Rights Commission of Pakistan

Background

Rozan's Gender Training and Resource center was formally initiated in 1999 with support from the Royal Netherlands Embassy. Pehchaan has consolidated Rozan's reputation as a provider of quality training on a number of areas; most prominently, gender and development, violence against women, police sensitization and child sexual abuse.

Mubariza

Besides conducting a series of gender sensitization workshops and TOTs (Training of Trainers) Pehchaan was successful in establishing Mubariza , the national network of gender trainers and activists; which has five organized city chapters. Mubariza city chapters are collaborating with the Ministry of Women Development, to host the provincial consultations of the Beijing Plus 10 conference. This is a follow up to the Fourth World Conference On Women (Beijing Platform for Action, 1995) and the subsequent Beijing Plus 5 conference held in 2000 in New York . City Chapters have organized membership drives and have been running small-scale advocacy campaigns and seminars.

Another important initiative of Pehchaan has been in playing an important role as founding member of the South Asian Network of Gender Activists and Trainers (SANGAT).