The term Women
empowerment refers to a process of social reforms for providing women the right to
freely take part in decisions that may affect their lives. The importance of
these reforms is highlighted throughout our history but these reformations were
limited to worldly debate, secret societies, or activists who tried to raise
voice against the repression of women's rights. These institutions achieved
some great milestones in propagated and acquiring some rights for women,
especially in the last century such as women's right to vote, represent, and
preside. However, these struggles haven’t achieved an ideal stature for women's
rights, but the progress seems promising. In the present times, it is a common
understanding among people all over the world regardless of their nation, sect,
or religion that women's rights shall be reserved, while gender equality shall
be propagated. However, each region or religion has limitations to freedom that
can be given to their community or believers of a certain religion and these
limitations are for both men and women. Likewise, the culture and religion of
Pakistan are quite contrary to that of the west and so are its limitations.
These limitations are guidelines to differentiate the social reforms that are
essential for the development of a country from those which pose danger to our
national integrity.
Pakistan has
also played a crucial role in empowering its women through massive women's
rights campaigns, with help of local activists, and by bringing legal
reformations. The revision of the hudood ordinance 1979 in 2006 by the Women’s
Protection Bill. According to the Hudood ordinance, a woman alleging rape was
required to provide four adult male eyewitnesses. The revision of the ordinance
by the women protection bill allowed rape to be prosecutable under civil
law. The Protection against Harassment
of Women at the Workplace Act (2010) was yet another milestone in empowering
women. Unquestionably these legal reform shows Pakistan’s willingness to
empower women so they can contribute to the growth of the country. Besides
these legal reformations, a fixed quota for women is reserved in every
government institute, while seats are reserved for women representatives in
provincial assemblies, national assembly, and senate. Furthermore, Pakistan’s
state religion Islam also entrusts women with great freedom and sheds light on
the importance of women in society as said by Muhammad (SAW); It is the female
who imbues principles and faith into the souls of the nation. The Islamic
perspective on the status of women can be further determined in the following
declaration of Allah almighty in the Quran;
“Indeed, the
noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you…” (49:13)
At another
place in the Quran, God clearly states that all humans are equal:
“To whoever,
male or female does good deeds and has faith, We shall give a good life and
reward them according to the best of their actions.” (16:97)
Even though
Pakistan's state system and religion promote women's rights and empower them,
the situation of women in Pakistan is quite controversial. The women in
Pakistan is susceptible to domestic violence, harassment, rape, and other
violence. according to a statistical report, 32% of women have been subject to
physical violence, whereas only 22% of women contribute to the national
economy. These statistics clearly show the failure of the law imposing agencies
such as the police to minimize this violence. However, the women's situation in
Pakistan can not only be improved by imposing the law. A massive movement of
social reforms that educate people on women's rights and women's empowerment is
necessary to bring any considerable change in our society. Moreover, the
greatest responsibility lies on the shoulder of women themselves. No reform or
movement can bring about any change until and unless women themselves take a
stand against the wrongs of society. They shall unify and strengthen them in
such a way that if the right of single women is violated, every woman of the
society shall raise her voice against the violence and shall not stop until
justice is provided and violators are punished only then women of our society
will be truly empowered.