International’s Women Day is celebrated across the world as people come together to push for women’s rights and gender equality. The way it’s acknowledged differs from country to country- but in a country where society is against the mere idea of women gathering outside their homes, pushing for gendered social change is not an easy task.
What is it?
The Aurat March (Women’s March) is Pakistan’s first annual women’s march. 2 years ago, more than 8 NGO’s in Karachi came together with a plan to organise a march on International’s Women’s day (The Diplomat). The march has transformed into a huge resistance movement, under the banner of ‘Hum Auratain’ (we women). This is an umbrella term for a collective of individuals who stand against the patriarchal structures of Pakistan’s society.
The march is held in all major cities of Pakistan; including Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta (The Diplomat). In addition to its face being one of symbolic resistance, the organisers release a manifesto each year that addresses the most pressing issues women face in Pakistan.
This year, the march took place in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Multan, and Quetta.
Why is it so important?
Pakistan is a severely male dominant society where destructive socio-sexual stereotypes regarding gender roles cut across all political and social boundaries. The Aurat March is a form of protest that has confronted the patriarchy which is so deeply embedded in Pakistan’s society. Such a protest is a huge step in the right direction for the women and girls of Pakistan.
Violence against women and girls- including rape, ‘honour killings’, acid attacks, forced marriage, and domestic violence remains a serious problem in Pakistan (Human Rights Watch).
More than 1,000 women each year are murdered by their male relatives who believe the victims have dishonoured their families (Human Rights Watch)
Only a fraction of these killings are reported to authorities and an even smaller fraction of those result in convictions. What is important to remember is that issues like honour killings are a systemic problem that stem from patriarchal attitudes. If the administration and authorities are the ones calling the shots in such cases- and they view women as male property- how can justice ever be delivered?
At least 66 women were murdered in Faisalabad district in the first 6 months of 2018 in the name of ‘honour’ (Human Rights Watch)
In June 2018, the murder of 19 year old Mahwish Arshad in Faisalabad, Punjab gained national attention (Dawn). She was murdered because she refused a marriage proposal from a bus security guard who was trying to flirt with her. There are thousands of cases just like Mahwish- all in the name of ‘honour’. Such cases make it clear that saying no as a woman in Pakistan is impossible.
The sight of thousands of women in Pakistan coming out of their homes, marching to show solidarity and speak against social injustices they face because of their gender is revolutionary. Moreover, consent and gender roles are not part of the public discourse, which is why this march is so important and a step in the right direction for the women and girls of Pakistan.
They march for the women like Mahwish who have been killed in the name of ‘honour’. They march for girls like Zainab Kasur, a 7 year old who was raped, killed, and dumped in a pile of garbage (Human Rights Watch).
Above all, they march for a change in mindset and societal attitudes.
Criticism against:
Such a revolutionary form of protest has attracted fierce criticism from political parties and the media. As this year’s march approached, political groups such as Jamiat-Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) became more vocal about their condemnation of the event (Tribune). This political party in particular had an issue with the posters, saying that to call for women’s autonomy over their bodies was in opposition to the ‘essence of Islam’.
‘Vulgar expressions’
Slogans like ‘mera jism, meri marzi’ (my body, my choice) are deemed ‘vulgar’ by such political groups (Tribune). It seems in the last 2 years the march made more headlines in local media for the backlash it received rather than its actual purpose- and most of the backlash was in response to slogans like this. Slogans, which highlighted issues such as gender roles, women’s autonomy, divorced women, and taxed sanitary products were viewed as ‘obscene’.
Women who participated in the march last year were severely harassed online. They were labelled as ‘bad women’ who were damaging the culture of Pakistan. On the 23rd of February, a petition was submitted before the Lahore High Court calling for the ban of the Aurat March (Amnesty International). This was unsuccessful as the Chief Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheik ruled that such a ban was unlawful.
If that isn’t concerning, on the days leading up to the protest, a mural in Islamabad to commemorate the Aurat March was defaced (Vice). That same evening, human rights defender Marzi Sirmed was verbally abused on a primetime TV show in regards to her support for the slogan ‘mera jism, meri marzi’ (Amnesty International).
It seems that as Aurat March gains more momentum, more people become opposed to it- and this is highly disturbing. Simple acts of vandalism such as destroying a mural which depicted women unshackling themselves and demanding the right to education is symptomatic of larger aggressions.
Support for:
The march has also gained an equal amount of support from organisations such as Amnesty International, who have voiced their encouragement towards the organisers and participants.
The Sindh government and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have announced their unwavering support for the Aurat March and vowed to protect the participants of the march under all circumstances.
‘We will not bow down or succumb to extremists pressures. The Aurat March will take place in Sukkur, Karachi, and other cities of the province as planned and women will march for their rights come what may’.
- Dr. Alfana Mallah, women’s rights activist from Hyderabad
Apart from the provincial government, Shireen Mazari, Federal Human Rights Minister has also voiced her support for the march, condemning those who plan to forcibly obstruct the event (Tribune). Additionally, Sindh Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah provided assurance that all necessary security arrangements for the march have been made.
Future of women in Pakistan?
Pakistani women have always been resisting, and public gathering such as the Aurat March bear testament. For many women, surviving alone is an act of resistance. This March has eradicated the belief that women are not conscious of their oppression.
This is a start of a new era to be proactive not reactive. In the years to come I have faith that the crowds will be bigger, voices louder, and the women of Pakistan will remain strong on the road ahead that is heavily stacked against them.
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