Access to and control over Resources

Although women play a central role in agriculture and also in the post-harvest sector in
particular, in comparison to men they have less access to material and financial resources (land,
means of production, or money in form of credit or something similar) and services (use of
labour force, etc.) For example, land titles are for the most part issued in the names of heads of
households - mostly men - and therefore women frequently have only indirect access to land,
through their fathers or husbands.

Access to financial resources in particular will be more closely examined: at the outset of their
marriage, women who do not come from prosperous families often have at their disposal only a
small amount of starting capital. They invest this mostly in processing and / or small-scale trade,
just as they do any profit realised. Often the meagre capital is used up in a short time through
business failures or following pregnancies. In such situations, women still have some financial
means left only if banks or savings and loan associations allow them access to credit.

Below given points explain how we can improve women’s access to and control over resources:

Improving women’s access to, use of and control over land and productive resources (LPR) is
essential for ensuring women’s equality and rights enjoyment – especially their rights to an
adequate standard of living, food, housing, political participation and decent work.

1. Women’s inequality in access to LPR is intimately related to gender inequality in other spheres.
Boosting women’s access to, use of and control over LPR will reciprocally improve gender
equality by improving women’s social, economic and political power.
2. This inter-relationship also means that in order to successfully and sustainably improves
women’s access to LPR, it is necessary to take a holistic approach, looking at this issue not
merely from the economic point of view, but also tackling legislative, social and cultural barriers
to equal access, use and control.
3. Legislative action is absolutely crucial. There are a variety of legislative areas that affect
women’s rights to LPR, including: Land law, Anti-discrimination law, Marriage and family law
– including marital property rights, which should recognize the equal rights of
both parties to use, obtain benefits from and manage joint property. Clear consent requirements
for transfer or sale should be enforced, as well as equal land and property rights for men and
women in the event of divorce and security of tenure guarantees, in particular for women
smallholder farmers, Provisions that grant marital power to one spouse/the ‘head of household’
must be abolished.

2) Human rights play an important role in highlighting the following structural and
systemic changes needed for women’s economic empowerment and improved access to LPR.

 Prohibition of gender-based violence, including domestic violence and rape

 Prohibition of forced eviction
 Prohibition of early marriage
 Access to justice
 Prohibition of gender-based violence
 Prohibition of impunity for gender-based violence
 Home countries of business enterprises and investing nations or nations supporting agricultural
investments in other nations must ensure that their actions respect and protect human life,
according to applicable international and regional human rights norms and standards
 In order to effect change, laws and legal frameworks must be enforce

3) Women need to be economically empowered

 Women’s need equal access to loans, credits, insurance and other financial services for access to
land, housing and property
 Women’s unpaid care work needs to be recognized – cooking, cleaning, fetching water and fuel,
and direct care of persons. When this work is taken into account, they work more hours than
men, for less money and recognition. This division of labor places huge constraints on women’s
time and opportunities, perpetuating their political, social and economic inequality and blocking
their enjoyment of many human rights, including to paid work, education and participation in
public life
 A large proportion of the world’s food insecure people earn their living from agriculture, many
of whom are women. Social protection should therefore support agricultural livelihoods directly,
to improve food security
 Micro finance cannot be used to make investments that women need to support daily life. The
financial inclusion women would mean that they have a variety of resources available at their
disposal
 Banks should offer a range of financial products specific to women’s needs and should not
perceive women as a risky investment

4) Fiscal and macroeconomic policies are directly related to women’s access to LPR. States
should:
 Prioritize investment in women and in their rights to LPR, both in national expenditure and in
international assistance and cooperation
 Make public investments both on the production side, for example, in water management
facilities and soil conservation, and on the consumption side, in health services, education, water
and sanitation, and social protection
 Make stable and sustainable long-term investment in agriculture in order to address challenges in
food security
 Make investment in the physical infrastructure that allows food producers to be connected to
markets
 Resist the view of land principally as a commodity; rather it should be viewed as a life-sustaining
resource. Commodification of land rarely benefits women’s rights, instead leading to land
concentration and land-grabbing
 Land concessions should not be made without an evaluation of the impacts on women’s land and
livelihoods and on water resources
 Role of International and National Organizations for women’s
Empowerment
Non-Governmental Organization(NGO) is an organization, usually non-profit, that
operates independently of a government. Contrary to common usage, the NGO title does not
necessarily imply the organization works abroad; NGOs can be local, national, or international.
NGOs came in to use in 1945. The term was coined during one of the conferences of The United
Nations, as a measure to distinguish organizations from inter-governmental and member
organizations. Though the term NGO received recognition only after 1945, studies suggest that
several organizations were actively engaged against slavery, racism and women suffrage during
the late eighteenth century.

At the moment local foundations are working day and night to provide social welfare in
all sectors but the importance of international NGOs can never be neglected as the mega
project’s initiatives are always taken with international funding’s. Below given is the list of
national organizations which are working in Pakistan and international organizations which are
working worldwide for the betterment of society and women empowerment.

Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla is a renowned child specialist and a proud chairperson of HOPE;
who, in 1997, started HOPE to bring hope and change in the lives of the poor and impoverished
by bringing health and education to their doorsteps. HOPE is not only providing quality free
education, vocational training and health services to the underprivileged in the easily accessible
areas but also in the remote areas like mountainous villages of AJK. Morever, HOPE has also
been efficiently involved in the emergency relief work for the flood and earthquake victims.

Roshaneh Zafar is the founder and MD of Kashf Foundation - a Lahore based non-profit
microfinance institution working for the economic empowerment of low-income households
especially women for the past 16 years. Ms. Roshaneh Zafar created Kashf with the aim to
alleviate poverty by providing a suite of high quality affordable financial and non-financial
services to low income households, especially women, in order to build their capacity and
enhance their economic role.
Nigar Ahmed, an educationist by profession has devoted her life for the empowerment of
women. And, she is the real power behind Aurat Foundation which is playing a key role in the
fight for equality for women since 1986. Over the last 26 years, the foundation has come to be
recognised nationally and internationally as one of the leading institutions for enhancing
women’s economic and political status in the country. It has also appeared as a major support
organisation for civil society organisations working for social change at the community level.

Nargis Latif, founder and CEO of Gulbahao, an NGO that has (for the last 15 years) been
quietly working on industrial and municipal waste in order to bring forth a clean non-polluting
environment as well as to make new discoveries for improving the economy and making life
cheaper and easier for all. The Projects Safai/Kamai bankand the chandi ghar are the
earning/commercial/welfare arms of Gul Bahao. Also, they serve as extension programs of the
research activities of Gul Bahao.

Parveen Saeed, in 2002, began a small-scale food provision programme called `khana ghar‘
after hearing a heart-wrenching news of a woman murdering her two kids, who was unable to
feed them and could not endure to watch them slowly starve to death. Parveen thought that
surely there is enough food to feed the ones to can’t afford, so she started Khana Ghar, where a
full meal is provided for only Rs. 3. Later on, Parveen started getting contributions from the
donors which made her able to open another Khana Ghar in February 2009, and cater to more
people.

Women in Struggle for Empowerment

Established in 2011, WISE (Women in Struggle for Empowerment) is a young and dynamic
women-led organization, determined to help bring about social change in how women and girls
are valued in their communities. In a short period of time it has done significant work around
women human rights in Pakistan. Registered under Societies Act 1860 as Non-Governmental
Organization, WISE is dedicated to protect and promote social, political, economic rights for
women with focus on Gender, Labor, Governance, and Human Rights in Pakistan.
WISE is an all-women's group of like-minded people, united on the basis of shared vision of
gender justice. Its leadership comprises women rights activists, with background of active
struggle for social justice and women empowerment in Pakistan. WISE team enjoys versatile
experience in women mobilization & organization, advocacy & lobbying for women and human
rights related campaigns, actions and struggles.
WISE strength lies in close networking with women struggles and movements at grassroots,
national, regional and international level. We also believe in struggling and politicizing all
human rights thus working closely with marginalized groups, religious, ethnic minorities and
vulnerable sections of society.
Women's Rights Association Pakistan

WRA is a registered (under ACT 1961) non-profit organization, founded in 1999 striving for
social, political and economic rights of underprivileged women in southern Punjab region on
Pakistan

They are working since 15 years to fight against gender-based violence, promote hygiene
practices and advocacy to support women in southern Punjab region of Pakistan. They work
with skilled and competent staff and pool of professional trainers, whom are designing and
implementing programs and advocacy campaigns, trainings, developing modules. WRA is
working since 12 years in 7 districts of southern Punjab; it has been strengthening communities
to address their respective community needs, ending violence against women, voter’s
educations, election monitoring, women’s skill enhancement, micro-business entrepreneurship
and human rights education.
Multan, Muzaffar Garh, Khanewal, Bahawalpur, Lodhran, Rahim Yaar Khan, Rajanpur
International Organizations
Association for Women in Communications (AWC)

The main aim of this organization is to involve women and girls in communication fields. In
today’s era of communication, when mass media is the main source of information women must
have full competence to demonstrate their talent and make a successful career path in various
communication fields such as:

 Television
 radio
 broadcast
 journalism
 film
 advertising
 public relations
 marketing
 graphic design
 multi-media design
 photography.
Zonta International
 Another international organization of executive professionals who are working together
for advancing the role of women throughout the world is Zonta International. This NGO
has more than 31000 members in 66 countries worldwide. The members are
welcomed to volunteer and share their talents and experience. Zonta International also
provides a number of scholarship programs.

World Young Women’s Christian Association

is a significant movement which is working for the women’s empowerment in 120 countries
of the world. The members of the organization belong to different faiths, ages, beliefs, and
cultures. The target of the NGO is to empower women and create women equality
by engaging 100 million girls and women by 2035. The organization is actively
collaborating with a number of other organizations as well, which are also engaged in human
rights issues. World Young Women’s Christian Association is also not indifferent towards
violence against women. So, it constantly takes actions which would raise awareness on
violence against women.