A day for women

As we mark International Women’s Day today, it is important to renew our pledge to equal rights and equal participation in Pakistani society for our women. It is a day when we in Pakistan should consider why even in the 21st century – nearly 70 years after Pakistan came into existence – the country’s women have not been able to access their most basic rights. According to official figures, barely 50 percent of women in the country are literate and unofficially the figure falls far lower. Primary enrolment for girls is still not equal to boys though it has improved markedly over the past three decades notably in urban centres. Less than 40 percent of women eligible to vote appear on electoral rolls according to surveys and in some districts this number falls to a dismal 10 percent or less. Despite new anti-rape and honour killing laws this year, there has been little sign of the crimes slowing down any time. These laws are positive steps in principle. But the problem of honour killings has always been about changing society – and there has been little progress on this front. In fact, we have arguably taken two steps back.

Despite these adversities, we need to remember that women have managed to reach places in our country. The concern is that around the world even in the 21st century women have yet to achieve true equality with their male counterparts. Even in the US, which labels itself a progressive and free country, controversy has grown over the rights of women and their control over their lives and their bodies. The same issues can be uncovered in almost every country of the world. Perhaps world leaders, including the growing number of women joining their ranks, need to determine how the world can be made a safer and more equitable place for women everywhere. For far too long, the secondary status of women has been tolerated in our society. We must remember the thousands of other women who have been victimised and even killed simply for the desire to have more control over their own lives. No one can be allowed to take that away.