Friday, December 24, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
WPF, Pakistan E-newsletter December 2010
WPF, Pakistan E-newsletter December 2010 (Issue No. 46)
To view this e-newsletter, click the link below:
To view earlier issues of e-newsletter, visit http://wpfpak.org/html/publications.html
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| By the end of 2010 World Population Foundation and Rutgers Nisso Groep will enter into a merger under the name of Rutgers WPF. |
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Friday, November 5, 2010
Be a part of the International campaign to promote sexual rights in Muslim societies 09-Nov-2010
One Day One Struggle (9th November, 2010)
Be a part of the International campaign to promote sexual rights in Muslim societies
For more details, visit our facebook group
One Day, One Struggle: An international campaign to promote sexual rights across muslim societies 09-Nov-2010
On 9 November 2009, a very diverse group of NGOs will stage bold actions in 11 countries to promote human rights. As part of the historic international campaign “One Day One Struggle” organized by the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR), over 20 organizations will hold simultaneous events and public demonstrations on topics like protesting customary practices such as honor killings, overturning discriminatory and life threatening laws like stoning or lashing of women, and calling for LGBT rights, the right to sexuality education and the right to bodily and sexual integrity of all people.
This year the World Population Foundation in collaboration with Kuch Khaas is stepping forth to celebrate this day in Pakistan and shout out for our rights through a unique theatrical performance. World Population Foundation is an international NGO that has been working in Pakistan since 1997 for the bodily rights of youth and women. They have made a significant headway for the promotion of these basic human rights in many districts across Pakistan.
On the 9th Nov 2010 WPF & Kuch Khaas will bring forth a theatrical performance, by young, energetic and extremely talented students that will depict the complexity and depth of problems faced, if the right information is not provided to everyone at the right time. A bold yet symbolic performance will be staged that will motivate and encourage the audience to take part in raising their voice for our rights and freedom. The performance will be followed by an interactive discussion where a panel will engage with the audience to answer any of their queries or gain insight from their ideas.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Take Action Now! join the WPF Volunteer’s Group
Don’t leave the action to Superheroes!
The World Needs YOU!
Gone are the days when young people would stand up for what they believe is right; when they would stand up against war, hunger and poverty. Free Love and Flower Power are relics of a distant past. And though there may still be a few youngsters out there, soldiering on in spite of daunting odds, the majority of the youth have lost the drive to affect positive change, and the self-belief to fight for what is right.
As a result, the global geo-political scene is hardly one to be proud of: war, hunger, environmental degradation and utter desperation is all that seems to stand out; pieces of broken lives lay scattered about like the debris from a demolished house.
What the world needs more than anything else is the characteristic integrity and verve of the youth. We need someone to challenge the hegemony of the current order; someone to liberate us from ourselves. We need YOU! No pressure, though.
So what’s stopping you from becoming the next Che Guevara? What’s stopping you from pushing the envelope, watching it bend? What’s stopping you for striving for a better future, a shared future full of equality and opportunity?
So let us all join hands and lay the foundations for a better tomorrow!
You can contact us at greymatters@wpfpak.org to become a contributor to our blog, or to join the WPF Volunteer’s Group.
The World Needs YOU!
Gone are the days when young people would stand up for what they believe is right; when they would stand up against war, hunger and poverty. Free Love and Flower Power are relics of a distant past. And though there may still be a few youngsters out there, soldiering on in spite of daunting odds, the majority of the youth have lost the drive to affect positive change, and the self-belief to fight for what is right.
As a result, the global geo-political scene is hardly one to be proud of: war, hunger, environmental degradation and utter desperation is all that seems to stand out; pieces of broken lives lay scattered about like the debris from a demolished house.
What the world needs more than anything else is the characteristic integrity and verve of the youth. We need someone to challenge the hegemony of the current order; someone to liberate us from ourselves. We need YOU! No pressure, though.
So what’s stopping you from becoming the next Che Guevara? What’s stopping you from pushing the envelope, watching it bend? What’s stopping you for striving for a better future, a shared future full of equality and opportunity?
So let us all join hands and lay the foundations for a better tomorrow!
You can contact us at greymatters@wpfpak.org to become a contributor to our blog, or to join the WPF Volunteer’s Group.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Burying our Heads in the Sand
Contrary to common belief ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand when faced with apparent danger. According to experts at the San Diego Zoo when faced with an unavoidable threat an ostrich, “…flops to the ground and remains still, with its head and neck flat on the ground in front of it.” The point here is not to discuss the unique behavior patterns of ostriches, but to establish that there is an element of pragmatism inherent in the way these over-sized birds deal with danger.
Sadly, however, we Pakistani’s have a decidedly different and less practical way of addressing the many problems our nation is currently suffering from. Rather than tackle a particular issue head on and delve into its context, we prefer to run around in circles, indulging in unproductive debates around the merits of an issue, never realizing that this approach serves to only aggravate the problem at hand. This tendency is apparent in the prevalence of conspiracy theories throughout Pakistan regarding the causes of religious extremism that have, to a great extent, prevented society at large from recognizing terrorism as domestic problem with primarily localized solutions.
This tendency is also responsible for the ignorant way in which our society and government have responded to the burgeoning sexual health problems of the population which have been brought into focus by a “population explosion” that has added to the strain on our already out-stretched state structures. This sexual health crisis –after years of being ignored on a social and institutional level –has attained critical mass, so to speak. It has severely impacted the lives of a majority of the population –especially women, children and adolescents –and cannot be ignored any longer, especially in light of international recognition of the link between promotion sexual health and reduction of poverty in developing countries.
In terms of exposure to sexual health risks, the state of affairs of women in Pakistan is by far the worst and is caused by the pervasion of discriminatory gender norms that perpetuate gender inequality in society. Gender Inequity, which is defined by the Sloan Work and Family Research Network, of Boston College, as a, "A social order in which women and men share the same opportunities and the same constraints on full participation in both the economic and the domestic realm", is reflected in Pakistan by the fact that only 33% of women (10 years and older) have completed primary education and the total number of employed women is nearly four times less than that of men. Discriminatory gender norms –which restrict mobility, societal representation, and access to health and education services for women –have the combined effect of objectifying women (as means of reproduction, housework and sexual gratification) and institutionalizing gender inequity in Pakistan.
In countries where women have to survive and function in the midst of such circumstances on a daily basis their sexual and reproductive health and rights are likely to be blatantly disregarded. For instance, the existence of mobility restrictions on women not only severely limits their participation in the economy and society in the long-run but is also used as socially justifiable pretext for violence against women in Pakistan. However the primary factor of gender-based violence is the objectification of women in Pakistani society especially rural areas, where an overwhelming majority of such cases are reported. It has been reported that women are arbitrarily bludgeoned to death by male relatives for reasons as trivial as not serving a timely cup of tea. The perpetrators of such violence are not likely to feel much of a moral twinge for their actions, as the notion of social control of women –no matter how repressive –is deeply ingrained in their minds due to the environment they have grown up in. They often get away scot-free thus giving them the resolve and experience to add a bit of ‘creative flair’ to their brutality: amongst the 1321 instances of gender-based violence reported in the first quarter of 2008 alone there was an overwhelming number of cases of women being buried alive, tortured, gang-raped and burnt with acid. Similarly, the poor access to opportunities in education and gainful employment for women, and their socially-defined role as objects of reproduction is the main cause behind the 83 maternal deaths that take place in Pakistan, on average, every day. Further, it is estimated that over 80% of these deaths occur due to wholly communicable causes such as the fact that only 34% of all deliveries are attended by trained health professionals –that derive from poverty, illiteracy and gender imbalances present in our society. Regretfully, the grim picture painted by these facts is hardly given the attention it warrants by both the media and civil society.
Sadly, women are not the only demographic that is exposed to increased sexual health risks in Pakistan: the sorry sexual health state of adolescents in Pakistan is undeniable and has been highlighted consistently by the Ministry of Youth Affairs as an area of action, although little has been done in this regard. And just as the sexual ill-health of women is intrinsically linked with gender norms and cultural practices, an analysis of the root causes of the poor sexual health state of young people in Pakistan also reveals the existence of cultural norms as a key factor in young people’s prevalent sexual health status. As a result of these cultural norms –which disapprove of open discussion of sex and sexuality related issues in all spheres of public life to protect the “moral fabric” of society –the youth of Pakistan are not provided age-appropriate sexual health information through responsible channels. According to a research study, conducted by the World Population Foundation, on the “Status of Sexual Health and Rights of Young People in Pakistan”, this puts young people at increased risk of, “…abuse, exploitation and disease.” Thus it is not uncommon for young people to indulge in a number of risky sexual activities –such as having unprotected sexual debut with sex-workers –that have debilitating impacts on their sexual, mental and emotional well-being. Another concerning effect of the aforementioned cultural norms is to provide legitimacy to the denial of sexual and reproductive health services to young people with blatant disregard to their sexual well-being and needs. This is reflected in a research study, conducted by the World Population Foundation, on the “Status of Sexual Health and Rights of Young People in Pakistan”, which concludes that the right to healthcare and health protection is amongst the four most infringed sexual rights of young people in Pakistan. And despite the strong case that can be made for provision of sexual and reproductive health education and services to the youth, there has been strong social opposition towards such ideas in the past: Dawood Public School of Karachi was closed down by the Ministry of Education in August 2009 for providing sexual health education to its secondary level students, after pressure exerted by right-wing groups. It is highly likely that sexual health counseling and services will also evoke a similar response.
Hence, it is clear that the sexual health and rights status of the Pakistani population –particularly women and children –is one that cannot be ignored for longer. The fact that the prevalent situation derives from ignorance and out-dated cultural norms and practices make it imperative upon us to extract our heads from the sand and begin open, respectful and informative discussions about sexual health rights issues. This will not only assist the restructuring of the cultural order to become more responsive to the needs of women and children, but will also provide the added advantage of making civil society an important stakeholder in the integration of sexual and reproductive health rights throughout Pakistan. The latter outcome, in particular, will have a significant bearing on the success and sustainability of all governmental and non-governmental efforts in the supply and demand mechanisms of the sexual health services sector.
Sadly, however, we Pakistani’s have a decidedly different and less practical way of addressing the many problems our nation is currently suffering from. Rather than tackle a particular issue head on and delve into its context, we prefer to run around in circles, indulging in unproductive debates around the merits of an issue, never realizing that this approach serves to only aggravate the problem at hand. This tendency is apparent in the prevalence of conspiracy theories throughout Pakistan regarding the causes of religious extremism that have, to a great extent, prevented society at large from recognizing terrorism as domestic problem with primarily localized solutions.
This tendency is also responsible for the ignorant way in which our society and government have responded to the burgeoning sexual health problems of the population which have been brought into focus by a “population explosion” that has added to the strain on our already out-stretched state structures. This sexual health crisis –after years of being ignored on a social and institutional level –has attained critical mass, so to speak. It has severely impacted the lives of a majority of the population –especially women, children and adolescents –and cannot be ignored any longer, especially in light of international recognition of the link between promotion sexual health and reduction of poverty in developing countries.
In terms of exposure to sexual health risks, the state of affairs of women in Pakistan is by far the worst and is caused by the pervasion of discriminatory gender norms that perpetuate gender inequality in society. Gender Inequity, which is defined by the Sloan Work and Family Research Network, of Boston College, as a, "A social order in which women and men share the same opportunities and the same constraints on full participation in both the economic and the domestic realm", is reflected in Pakistan by the fact that only 33% of women (10 years and older) have completed primary education and the total number of employed women is nearly four times less than that of men. Discriminatory gender norms –which restrict mobility, societal representation, and access to health and education services for women –have the combined effect of objectifying women (as means of reproduction, housework and sexual gratification) and institutionalizing gender inequity in Pakistan.
In countries where women have to survive and function in the midst of such circumstances on a daily basis their sexual and reproductive health and rights are likely to be blatantly disregarded. For instance, the existence of mobility restrictions on women not only severely limits their participation in the economy and society in the long-run but is also used as socially justifiable pretext for violence against women in Pakistan. However the primary factor of gender-based violence is the objectification of women in Pakistani society especially rural areas, where an overwhelming majority of such cases are reported. It has been reported that women are arbitrarily bludgeoned to death by male relatives for reasons as trivial as not serving a timely cup of tea. The perpetrators of such violence are not likely to feel much of a moral twinge for their actions, as the notion of social control of women –no matter how repressive –is deeply ingrained in their minds due to the environment they have grown up in. They often get away scot-free thus giving them the resolve and experience to add a bit of ‘creative flair’ to their brutality: amongst the 1321 instances of gender-based violence reported in the first quarter of 2008 alone there was an overwhelming number of cases of women being buried alive, tortured, gang-raped and burnt with acid. Similarly, the poor access to opportunities in education and gainful employment for women, and their socially-defined role as objects of reproduction is the main cause behind the 83 maternal deaths that take place in Pakistan, on average, every day. Further, it is estimated that over 80% of these deaths occur due to wholly communicable causes such as the fact that only 34% of all deliveries are attended by trained health professionals –that derive from poverty, illiteracy and gender imbalances present in our society. Regretfully, the grim picture painted by these facts is hardly given the attention it warrants by both the media and civil society.
Sadly, women are not the only demographic that is exposed to increased sexual health risks in Pakistan: the sorry sexual health state of adolescents in Pakistan is undeniable and has been highlighted consistently by the Ministry of Youth Affairs as an area of action, although little has been done in this regard. And just as the sexual ill-health of women is intrinsically linked with gender norms and cultural practices, an analysis of the root causes of the poor sexual health state of young people in Pakistan also reveals the existence of cultural norms as a key factor in young people’s prevalent sexual health status. As a result of these cultural norms –which disapprove of open discussion of sex and sexuality related issues in all spheres of public life to protect the “moral fabric” of society –the youth of Pakistan are not provided age-appropriate sexual health information through responsible channels. According to a research study, conducted by the World Population Foundation, on the “Status of Sexual Health and Rights of Young People in Pakistan”, this puts young people at increased risk of, “…abuse, exploitation and disease.” Thus it is not uncommon for young people to indulge in a number of risky sexual activities –such as having unprotected sexual debut with sex-workers –that have debilitating impacts on their sexual, mental and emotional well-being. Another concerning effect of the aforementioned cultural norms is to provide legitimacy to the denial of sexual and reproductive health services to young people with blatant disregard to their sexual well-being and needs. This is reflected in a research study, conducted by the World Population Foundation, on the “Status of Sexual Health and Rights of Young People in Pakistan”, which concludes that the right to healthcare and health protection is amongst the four most infringed sexual rights of young people in Pakistan. And despite the strong case that can be made for provision of sexual and reproductive health education and services to the youth, there has been strong social opposition towards such ideas in the past: Dawood Public School of Karachi was closed down by the Ministry of Education in August 2009 for providing sexual health education to its secondary level students, after pressure exerted by right-wing groups. It is highly likely that sexual health counseling and services will also evoke a similar response.
Hence, it is clear that the sexual health and rights status of the Pakistani population –particularly women and children –is one that cannot be ignored for longer. The fact that the prevalent situation derives from ignorance and out-dated cultural norms and practices make it imperative upon us to extract our heads from the sand and begin open, respectful and informative discussions about sexual health rights issues. This will not only assist the restructuring of the cultural order to become more responsive to the needs of women and children, but will also provide the added advantage of making civil society an important stakeholder in the integration of sexual and reproductive health rights throughout Pakistan. The latter outcome, in particular, will have a significant bearing on the success and sustainability of all governmental and non-governmental efforts in the supply and demand mechanisms of the sexual health services sector.
In the Land of Heer, Sohni and Sahiban: The Correlation between Gender Inequity and Women’s Health
“Once a daughter of the Punjab did weep and you poured out songs of lamentation
Today a thousand daughters weep, O Waris, but who is there to listen?” –Amrita Pritam
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
There was a time, in this land of the Pure, when celebrated poets like Waris Shah immortalized the beauty and substance of the female spirit in soulful Punjabi verse. The tales they told –of Sohni, Sahiban and Heer –were recounted perennially, in villages and in cities, around the warmth of a fireplace in the winters and under the shade of Banyan trees in the summers. That time, regretfully, is part of a bygone era. Today, as a result of the moral and cultural discourse of the country being hijacked by an intrinsically myopic and patriarchal interpretation of Islam, women have been reduced to little more than objects; to be seen but not heard. In terms of numbers this poor societal status granted to women in Pakistan boils down to a situation where only 33% of women (10 years and older) have completed primary education and the total number of employed women equaling 11.81million –65% of which are engaged in unpaid work in family enterprise –is nearly four times less than that of men. As a result women in Pakistan have become increasingly dependent on a population of males who believe that the censure and control of women is their divine, masculine right.
However as worrying as the impeded social and economic development of Pakistani women may seem, the fact that their exclusion from education and employment has more immediate and detrimental effects on other, indirectly related aspects of their lives –such as their physical and reproductive health –is a cause of greater concern.
Although the physical and reproductive health of most women in Pakistan –except a select few –is in jeopardy it is rather shocking to note that pregnant mothers are not exceptions to the rule; the rule that justifies discrimination against women in all spheres of public and private life, regardless of the consequences, on the basis of perceived Islamic cultural norms. Ironically, in this respect the guardians of our “Islamic culture” (who are, by and large, male) are in gross violation of authentic Islamic tradition –which grants a special, elevated status to all mothers. However, regardless of religious teachings, maternal mortality is a human rights issue of vast proportions, with a total of 82 maternal deaths occurring in Pakistan, daily. Furthermore, it is estimated that 80% of these deaths occur due to largely preventable reasons –such as the fact that only 34% of all deliveries are attended by trained health professionals –that derive from poverty, illiteracy and gender imbalances present in our society.
Regretfully, however, the health problems faced by Pakistani women are not just limited to increased risk of death or complications due to childbirth. Our country is home to a host of loathsome cultural practices such as “kari” which justify severe and often fatal violence against women who allegedly violate family “honor”. With the existence of such brutal cultural practices it is hardly surprising that violence against women is rampant and perpetrated under a broad range of pretexts – ranging from attempts at sexual coercion to reasons as trivial as not serving a timely cup of tea. Even more concerning is the fact that such instances of violence against women are provided complete legitimacy under the garb of culture and religion: a Senator, Mir Israrullah Zehri, who is now a member of President Zardari’s cabinet, rather self-righteously stood up in the Balochistan Senate and defended the custom of burying women alive as a “Baloch tribal custom” which should be “respected”. With this audibly asinine pat on back provided to the perpetrators of gender-based violence by our esteemed cabinet minister it is no wonder that 1321 instances were reported in the print media in the first quarter of 2008 alone. Assuming that this trend has neither increased nor decreased over the years we can expect a total of 5284 cases of gender based violence in each successive year. And while this figure is slightly lower than the 6000 US and coalition soldier deaths –in their joint occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan –one would assume that is far more preferable to take a bullet in the head than to be buried alive.
Hence it is clear that the plight caused by the exclusion of women from social and economic systems cannot be ignored any longer especially in light of the adverse effects this has on women’s health prospects. Meaningful female involvement in society is necessary if Pakistan is to meet the human development targets it hopes to achieve in the future. And though NGO’s such as the World Population Foundation and the Aurat Foundation and government agencies such as the Ministry of Population Welfare and Ministry of Women Development are doing meaningful work at the policy and service delivery level with regards to improving overall physical and reproductive health of women in Pakistan, their coordinated and individual efforts should focus on alternate approaches –such as male involvement in the process of female empowerment alongside advocacy to increase female representation in society –which address the root cause of the prevalent poor health prospects of women in Pakistan. This approach will be far more effective, in the long run, than curative intervention measures such as setting up women health clinics, mobilizing Lady Health Workers and setting up domestic violence shelters.
An edited version of this article was printed in Dawn, issue of 1st August, 2010.
Today a thousand daughters weep, O Waris, but who is there to listen?” –Amrita Pritam
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
There was a time, in this land of the Pure, when celebrated poets like Waris Shah immortalized the beauty and substance of the female spirit in soulful Punjabi verse. The tales they told –of Sohni, Sahiban and Heer –were recounted perennially, in villages and in cities, around the warmth of a fireplace in the winters and under the shade of Banyan trees in the summers. That time, regretfully, is part of a bygone era. Today, as a result of the moral and cultural discourse of the country being hijacked by an intrinsically myopic and patriarchal interpretation of Islam, women have been reduced to little more than objects; to be seen but not heard. In terms of numbers this poor societal status granted to women in Pakistan boils down to a situation where only 33% of women (10 years and older) have completed primary education and the total number of employed women equaling 11.81million –65% of which are engaged in unpaid work in family enterprise –is nearly four times less than that of men. As a result women in Pakistan have become increasingly dependent on a population of males who believe that the censure and control of women is their divine, masculine right.
However as worrying as the impeded social and economic development of Pakistani women may seem, the fact that their exclusion from education and employment has more immediate and detrimental effects on other, indirectly related aspects of their lives –such as their physical and reproductive health –is a cause of greater concern.
Although the physical and reproductive health of most women in Pakistan –except a select few –is in jeopardy it is rather shocking to note that pregnant mothers are not exceptions to the rule; the rule that justifies discrimination against women in all spheres of public and private life, regardless of the consequences, on the basis of perceived Islamic cultural norms. Ironically, in this respect the guardians of our “Islamic culture” (who are, by and large, male) are in gross violation of authentic Islamic tradition –which grants a special, elevated status to all mothers. However, regardless of religious teachings, maternal mortality is a human rights issue of vast proportions, with a total of 82 maternal deaths occurring in Pakistan, daily. Furthermore, it is estimated that 80% of these deaths occur due to largely preventable reasons –such as the fact that only 34% of all deliveries are attended by trained health professionals –that derive from poverty, illiteracy and gender imbalances present in our society.
Regretfully, however, the health problems faced by Pakistani women are not just limited to increased risk of death or complications due to childbirth. Our country is home to a host of loathsome cultural practices such as “kari” which justify severe and often fatal violence against women who allegedly violate family “honor”. With the existence of such brutal cultural practices it is hardly surprising that violence against women is rampant and perpetrated under a broad range of pretexts – ranging from attempts at sexual coercion to reasons as trivial as not serving a timely cup of tea. Even more concerning is the fact that such instances of violence against women are provided complete legitimacy under the garb of culture and religion: a Senator, Mir Israrullah Zehri, who is now a member of President Zardari’s cabinet, rather self-righteously stood up in the Balochistan Senate and defended the custom of burying women alive as a “Baloch tribal custom” which should be “respected”. With this audibly asinine pat on back provided to the perpetrators of gender-based violence by our esteemed cabinet minister it is no wonder that 1321 instances were reported in the print media in the first quarter of 2008 alone. Assuming that this trend has neither increased nor decreased over the years we can expect a total of 5284 cases of gender based violence in each successive year. And while this figure is slightly lower than the 6000 US and coalition soldier deaths –in their joint occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan –one would assume that is far more preferable to take a bullet in the head than to be buried alive.
Hence it is clear that the plight caused by the exclusion of women from social and economic systems cannot be ignored any longer especially in light of the adverse effects this has on women’s health prospects. Meaningful female involvement in society is necessary if Pakistan is to meet the human development targets it hopes to achieve in the future. And though NGO’s such as the World Population Foundation and the Aurat Foundation and government agencies such as the Ministry of Population Welfare and Ministry of Women Development are doing meaningful work at the policy and service delivery level with regards to improving overall physical and reproductive health of women in Pakistan, their coordinated and individual efforts should focus on alternate approaches –such as male involvement in the process of female empowerment alongside advocacy to increase female representation in society –which address the root cause of the prevalent poor health prospects of women in Pakistan. This approach will be far more effective, in the long run, than curative intervention measures such as setting up women health clinics, mobilizing Lady Health Workers and setting up domestic violence shelters.
An edited version of this article was printed in Dawn, issue of 1st August, 2010.
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