The Potohar Organization for Development Advocacy (PODA-Pakistan) is holding its 19th Annual Rural Women Leadership Training Conference from October 27 to 29 at Lok Virsa, Islamabad, bringing together rural women leaders from across the country to discuss their rights, protection, political participation and socio-economic empowerment.
The three-day conference, organized in connection with International Rural Women’s Day, has brought together participants representing approximately 100 districts across Pakistan, including all four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. The gathering provides a platform for rural women to share their experiences, highlight challenges faced by their communities and develop collective recommendations for policymakers.
The conference focuses on key issues affecting rural women and girls, including gender-based violence, access to education, financial inclusion, climate justice and safe digital spaces. Discussions also address online harassment, child marriage prevention and the importance of strengthening women’s access to legal protections and essential services.
A major component of the conference concerns women’s political participation and leadership. Training sessions examine constitutional and electoral rights, barriers faced by rural women as voters and candidates, and legal remedies available under the Election Act 2017. Participants are also discussing strategies to prevent violence against women and girls and improve access to protection, rehabilitation and support services.
The event also highlights the cultural contributions and traditional knowledge of rural women from different regions of Pakistan. By bringing together women from diverse social and geographical backgrounds, the conference seeks to strengthen solidarity, promote inclusive participation and ensure that rural women’s perspectives receive greater attention in public policy and decision-making.
Economic empowerment and sustainable livelihoods form another important part of the programme. Sessions explore opportunities for women in agriculture, olive production and rural entrepreneurship, with an emphasis on business development, market access, gender equality and climate-resilient livelihoods. These discussions underline the importance of creating opportunities that enable rural women to contribute more effectively to household incomes and local economies.
The conference also addresses disability inclusion, highlighting the leadership, experiences and participation of women with disabilities. The discussions seek to promote more inclusive approaches that recognize the needs and rights of women facing multiple barriers to education, employment and public participation.
PODA Executive Director Sameena Nazir has emphasized the importance of providing rural women with a platform to raise their concerns directly with policymakers and present recommendations rooted in community experiences. She has also highlighted their significant contribution to Pakistan’s economy and society and called for greater attention to their rights, needs and priorities.
The conference is scheduled to conclude on October 29 with the presentation and approval of a resolution outlining participants’ priorities and recommendations, followed by an awards ceremony recognizing rural women’s leadership and contributions. Supported by international and development partners, including the European Union, the National Endowment for Democracy, CIVICUS, Sightsavers and Olive Culture, the conference aims to strengthen rural women’s leadership and advance practical measures for greater equality, protection, inclusion and economic opportunity across Pakistan.
