Enabling Civic Spaces for Feminist Actions in Pakistan

Gender equality is a central component to development. Yet Pakistan currently ranks the second lowest country in the world for gender equality, according to the Global Gender Gap Index. Women suffer from pervasive gender-based violence, from domestic abuse, honor killings, sexual violence to institutional discrimination. Women organizations, feminist movements and women rights defenders are commonly stigmatized as “foreign agents” and face state intimidation. There are incidents when State banned some women organizations alleging that they were involved in objectionable and anti- state activities and were allowed to restart work only on the court orders. Despite such multiple odds, Pakistani women showing their resilience and dedication to claim their due rights.

Thus, under the project ‘‘Enabling Civic Spaces for Feminist Actions in Pakistan’’, WISE conducted a comprehensive provincial level primary research/ baseline in 10 districts of the Punjab include Lahore, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Kasur, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Multan, Faisalabad, Chakwal, Rawalpindi, covering the nature and level of challenges and threats to feminist leaders, women human rights defenders and feminist movements.