STUDY GUIDE

EMPOWER HER COUNCIL

THEME: EXPLORING CHALLENGES TO WOMEN'S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, GENDER EQUALITY, AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE

Background:
Welcome to the Empower Her Council's study guide on "Exploring Challenges to Women's Economic
Empowerment, Gender Equality, and Social Justice in Pakistan." As delegates of the Empower Her Council, we
have a unique opportunity to address the pressing issues that hinder women's rights and socio-economic
empowerment in Pakistan. This study guide aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the
multifaceted challenges faced by women in the country and spark insightful discussions that lead to
meaningful solutions.

Throughout this Council session, we will delve into the historical context of women's rights in Pakistan,
examining progress made and persistent gaps that need attention. We will explore gender disparities in the
workforce, wage gaps, and limited access to education and entrepreneurship opportunities. Moreover, we will
address the critical issue of gender-based violence and discrimination, seeking ways to safeguard women's
rights and promote social justice.

Our discussions will also explore the influence of culture and societal norms on women's roles and
opportunities, and we will consider the impact of technology in advancing women's rights and financial
inclusion. Additionally, we will focus on empowering women in marginalized communities, aiming to uplift
their socio-economic status and well-being.

As participants in the Empower Her Council, your thoughtful analysis and innovative thinking will contribute to
comprehensive resolutions that advocate for gender equality and social justice in Pakistan. Let us work
together to shatter barriers, empower women, and create a brighter and more equitable future for all.

INTRODUCTION:
Historical Context of the Woman Rights in Pakistan:
The history of women's rights in Pakistan is a complex journey, marked by struggles, progress, and ongoing
challenges. Before the creation of Pakistan in 1947, the region was part of British India, where some women
participated in the struggle for independence. After gaining independence, the 1956 Constitution included
provisions for gender equality. In 1961, the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance aimed to reform family laws for
Muslims in Pakistan. The 1973 Constitution further enshrined women's rights, ensuring equal protection under
the law and prohibiting discrimination. Over the years, efforts have been made to increase women's political
representation through quotas and address violence against women through legislative measures. Women in
Pakistan have made strides in joining the workforce and contributing to various professions and industries.
However, wage disparities and limited opportunities for career advancement continue to be significant
challenges. The government has also made efforts to improve women's access to education, and the literacy
rate for women has gradually increased over time. Despite progress, challenges remain in ensuring equal
access to education, especially in rural and marginalized communities. Although various laws have been
introduced to criminalize domestic violence, acid attacks, and honor killings, women in Pakistan still face
systemic barriers, discrimination, and violence. Societal norms and traditional practices often hinder the full
realization of women's rights and equal opportunities. As we discuss the challenges to women's economic
empowerment, gender equality, and social justice in the Empower Her Council, it is essential to acknowledge
this historical context and work collectively towards creating a more inclusive and just society for all.

Women economic empowerment:

Increasing women's participation in Pakistan's labor force is beneficial to both economic growth and gender
equality. Policy interventions must identify and alleviate barriers to women's participation by improving access
to finance, enhancing digital literacy, and addressing mobility challenges.

The lack of women's participation in Pakistan's economy is both a gender equity and developmental concern.
The economic case for focusing on women's economic empowerment is clear: if their participation was at par
with men, Pakistan's GDP could increase by 60% by 2025. Another estimate suggests that closing the gender
gap in labor force participation could lead to a one-off 30% boost in GDP.

Globally, women form 38.8% of the labor force, but just around 20% in Pakistan, one of the lowest in South
Asia. In fact, Pakistan fares poorly on all gender-related indicators. The Global Gender Gap Index Report 2022
ranked Pakistan at 145 out of 156 countries in terms of women's economic participation and opportunity, at
135 for women's educational attainment, 143 for women's health and survival, and at 95 for political
empowerment. The Global Wage Report 2018-19 by International Labor Organization estimated the gender
pay gap variation between men and women at 34%. Pakistan also shows the largest gender gaps amongst
electrical democracies in voter turn-out, with men being 20% more likely to vote.
The constraints to women’s participation have been discussed and documented at length. These range from
the lack of a conducive policy support (such as lack of workplace regulation, maternity leave laws, access to
credit and finance) to patriarchal mindsets and social norms that limit women’s mobility and choice to work,
including concerns of mobility and access to transport, and the burden of unpaid care and domestic work.

A) Wage Gap:
The gender wage gap exists across a multitude of nations, sectors and professions, disproportionality affecting
low-income women. Pakistan is the epicenter of this inequity. According to the Global Wage Report 2018/19
(ILO), women in Pakistan earn 34% less than men on average. The same report also found women in Pakistan
constitute 90% of the bottom 1% of wage earners in the country. Below are ways to bridge the gender wage
gap in Pakistan.

B) Women's entrepreneurship:

In Pakistan women entrepreneurship is a subject of great neglect. The governments look incapacitated to pay
attention to the rising problems of women entrepreneurship. They are facing numerous problems ranging
from economic, cultural, sociological and religious. Psychological issues aggravate the situation and make
them untrustworthy in business dealings. Silence, depression, neglecting, social isolation and non-
participative behavior are some of the causes of female psychological disorders that affect their
entrepreneurial performance. This paper attempts to identify problems confronted by the women
entrepreneurships and tends to bring forth a solution aiming at improving the economic structure of state.

Barriers to Girls Education in Pakistan:

Women's education in Pakistan is a fundamental right of every female citizen, according to article thirty-seven
of the Constitution of Pakistan, but gender discrepancies still exist in the educational sector. According to the
2011 Human Development Report of the United Nations Development Program, approximately twice as many
males as females receive a secondary education in Pakistan, and public expenditures on education amount to
only 2.7% of the GDP of the country.

Pakistan's education system faces critical challenges, with 5 million children out of school, and 60% of them
being girls. Female literacy rate stands at approximately 51.8%, varying across regions. In Azad Kashmir, it is
74%, while in newly merged districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it is as low as 9.5%. Moreover, 17.7 million
adolescents aged 10-16 years, with 51% being girls, are outside formal education. Gender inequality, along
with socioeconomic disparities, contributes to low girls' education levels.

Insufficient funding for education is a concern, with public expenditure on education as % to GDP estimated at
2.4%, the lowest in the region. The lack of quality in government schools has driven parents to opt for low-cost
private schools, which may lack quality assurance and oversight. Private schools exploit teachers, especially
educated females, with low salaries and harsh treatment, affecting students' learning.

Restrictions on girls' education, such as early marriages, extremism, and distance to schools in rural areas,
hinder sustainable progress. Experimentation and contradictory policies further complicate the situation.
Achieving SDGs for the education sector requires doubling education expenditure, prioritizing girls' education,
ensuring equal access, and improving the quality of both government and private schools. Implementing
constitutional promises for compulsory education and holding those who do not enroll their children
accountable are crucial steps. Pakistan needs a serious commitment from both the government and private
sector to become an educated nation.

Gender-Based Violence and Discrimination in Pakistan

I. Women as Second-Class Citizens in Pakistani Society

Gender-based discrimination in Pakistan extends beyond women to encompass all genders except cis-men,
rooted in the country's legal and governance systems. This pervasive discrimination leads to women being at
the receiving end of various forms of violence and injustice, including honor killings, child marriages, sexual
assault, wage disparities, workplace harassment, acid attacks, forced marriages, and underrepresentation in
government offices.

II. The Issue of Honor and Violence against Women

Within Pakistani culture, men often associate their honor with the actions of women related to them. When
women make decisions independently, it may be perceived as a dishonor to the men, leading to retaliatory
physical assaults or even murders. Shockingly, thousands of women are killed annually in Pakistan for trivial
reasons, such as serving cold food to their husbands. Rural areas, particularly in northwestern Pakistan,
witness the worst forms of gender-based violence, where women's rights are severely restricted. This
oppressive culture reinforces the belief that women are commodities to be controlled and traded through
marriage, depriving them of agency and subjecting them to mistreatment. Local tribunals, known as jirgas,
also play a significant role in perpetuating violence against women. Disturbingly, women are sometimes
sentenced to rape as punishment for crimes committed by male relatives, despite these tribunals lacking
formal authority. Though the Domestic Violence Bill was presented to the National Assembly in 2021, it faced
considerable criticism for allegedly contradicting "cultural norms of society."

III. Patriarchal Ideals and Forced Marriages

As previously mentioned, girls as young as 8 or 9 are forced into marriages with significantly older men.
Approximately 21% of women in Pakistan experience marriage before turning 18, influenced by patriarchal
ideals that emphasize male control and manipulation through "grooming" practices. Some women are married
off to the Quran or older family members to prevent them from inheriting property or leaving the family.
These forced marriages often lead to marital rape, a topic that receives insufficient attention under Pakistani
law. Despite the introduction of the Sindh Child Marriages Restraint Act in 2013, which prohibits marriage
below the age of 18, the law continues to face resistance, and the pandemic has exacerbated the prevalence
of child marriage cases in the province.

IV. Challenges in Addressing Rape and Sexual Assault

Pakistan reports an average of around 11 rape cases per day. However, the low conviction rate for such
heinous crimes can be attributed to various factors, including the social stigma surrounding reporting and the
tendency of judges to question victims' intentions when exercising their freedom to dress and move. Women
are expected to report incidents immediately, disregarding the mental and emotional trauma they endure.
High-profile cases involving famous individuals may result in the woman's claim being disregarded due to the
accused's social standing. In contrast, cases involving fewer famous individuals often lead to public calls for
capital punishment, highlighting an imbalanced judicial response.

V. Workplace Harassment and Gender Inequality

Women entering formal employment are often stereotyped as part of the "chattering class." However, this
stereotype does not shield women from workplace harassment, whether in government or private sectors. A
significant loophole in Pakistan's harassment laws is that self-employed women are not protected under
workplace harassment regulations. Furthermore, women face greater challenges in achieving wage parity with
men, despite possessing comparable levels of education and expertise. For every 100 rupees earned by a man,
a woman earns only 66 rupees for the same work. Moreover, women constitute 90% of the bottom 1% of the
working class, indicating the urgent need to address gender-based discrimination in economic terms. True
liberation and dismantling patriarchal norms necessitate collective efforts through class struggle, with the
state playing a pivotal role in securing the rights of women workers and reducing power imbalances in society.

Jirga and Violence Against Women:

Gender-Based Violence and Discrimination in Pakistan is exacerbated by the influence of jirgas, which are
purely male institutions that consistently exclude women. Women cannot be members of jirgas, nor can they
be present even if they are the main accused or victim in a case. The jirgas operate on local traditions and
honor-based belief systems, where a man's honor can condemn a woman based solely on the testimony of her
male relatives. In cases of adultery or marrying against family wishes, women may face severe punishment,
even death. Compounding the problem, jirgas have redefined the practice of swara, vanni, and sung chatti as a
form of revenge and humiliation rather than a peacekeeping measure.

These practices persist despite the negative impact on women's lives. A household survey revealed that more
than 77% of marriages were settled through harmful cultural practices like swara and vanni, and three-
quarters of women reported being victims of physical violence. Jirgas play a role in localized governance
decisions and use women's bodies and marriages as tools to maintain social and economic order. However,
there is a growing recognition of the need to break from these harmful traditions, with some police efforts to
make arrests in cases violating the law. Nevertheless, the challenge remains to establish a comprehensive
break from past traditions and promote gender equality in Pakistani society.

Women's Political Participation and Leadership:

Women's representation in political offices and decision-making roles remains low, with only around 20% of
seats in the National Assembly and 17% in the Senate held by women as of 2021. This underrepresentation is
due to patriarchal norms, limited access to education and resources, and gender-based violence in politics.
 Women face numerous challenges in participating in politics, including societal norms, gender
stereotypes, discrimination within political parties, and threats of violence. These obstacles discourage women
from actively engaging in the political sphere.

Strategies to promote women's political empowerment and leadership involve challenging societal
attitudes, implementing affirmative action policies, providing support and training for women candidates, and
creating safe environments for women in politics. Encouraging women's participation in local governance can
also pave the way for increased political involvement.

QARMA’s:
1. Can we consider hijab being a barrier to Women's economic empowerment?

STUDY AND RESEARCH TIPS:

1. Search for relevant examples to problems which should be highlighted.
2. Past cases should be understood and used to reflect on future look alike scenarios.
3. International or national laws / guidelines should be understood and used as reference to back points of
discussions.

4. News articles, interviews and media clips can be a great source to gather above mentioned details.

Reference:
NGPF.pdf (pc.gov.pk)

Women economic empowerment is key to Pakistan's development | International Growth Centre (theigc.org)
Pakistan: Global Wage Report 2018/19: What lies behind Gender Pay Gap (ilo.org)
Pakistan has highest gender wage gap in world - Pakistan - DAWN.COM
Women's education in Pakistan - Wikipedia

femaleproblum.pdf (mul.edu.pk)
Anti-Harassment Laws in Pakistan - Courting the Law
CRIME OR CUSTOM? (hrw.org) (Domestic Violence)
Forced Marriage: Law and Practice in Pakistan by Sania Islam: SSRN

file:///C:/Users/humaa/Desktop/Ali%20University/JS9_UPR28_PAK_E_Main.pdf (Forced Conversion)