The annual conference of FemConsortia, a coalition of twelve women’s rights organizations and five alliances from Pakistan, commenced with a focus on sustaining feminist progress and addressing persisting challenges. The conference, stemming from Oxfam’s five-year program ”
Women’s Voice and Leadership-Pakistan,” aims to uphold feminist principles and drive transformative change at various levels. Various discussion papers, including “Women in Politics,” “Women in the Workplace,” “Adolescent Girls,” and “Climate Change with a Feminist Perspective,” were assigned to researchers for exploration.
Executive Director of NowCommunities and Conference Convenor, Farhat Parveen, highlighted the journey of FemConsortia and emphasized the importance of male allies in the feminist movement. Ombudsperson of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rakhshanda Naz, commended the resilience of Pakistani women in challenging societal norms, despite facing backlash. Panel discussions delved into research findings, with topics ranging from women’s political participation to the rights of adolescent girls.
The discourse underscored both progress and evolving challenges in the fight for gender equality. The conference concluded with a focus on the importance of comprehensive research and dialogue in addressing women’s rights issues, recognizing the evolving nature of challenges and the shifting dynamics of women’s engagement in society.
