Women’s rights activists have made an impassioned appeal for both state and society efforts to effectively address gender disparities. They stress the need to redefine the roles that Pakistani society and the government assign to women.
The annual index assesses gender equality across four key dimensions: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. As reported by Dawn, leading countries with gender equality include Iceland, Finland, Norway, New Zealand and Sweden.
“This year’s dismal ranking is not an anomaly. Pakistan has been consistently lagging behind in this index for over a decade,” said Bushra Khaliq, executive director of the Women’s Struggle for Empowerment (WISE), reflecting that the country still faces challenges in achieving gender equality.
By comparison, neighbouring countries have done better in closing the gender gap.
A look at the rankings by sector reveals wide disparities. In economic participation and opportunity, Pakistan ranks 143rd and Bangladesh 146th. In education attainment, Pakistan ranks 139th, lagging behind Bangladesh (125th). Political empowerment remains a challenge, with Pakistan ranking 112th, well behind Bangladesh (7th).
The WEF report attributes Pakistan’s recent decline in the index to a decline in political power, despite a slight improvement in educational attainment. Gender disparities remain pronounced in the economic and political spheres, along with gaps in educational attainment and health.
Reflecting on political empowerment, Farah Zia, chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, highlighted the challenges women face in mainstream politics. “Recent political maneuvers have targeted women leaders and activists, diminishing their role and influence,” she lamented, citing examples of targeted imprisonment and legal obstacles.
Despite women making up 33 percent of parliamentary seats, real representation remains difficult for women who do not belong to influential political families or live in urban areas, Zia noted.
On the economic role, Bushra Khaliq acknowledged that there has been some progress in areas such as textiles and fashion, but stressed that exploitation is rife in the informal sector. “Women in Pakistan mostly work in precarious conditions, limiting their economic independence,” Khaliq said.
In the health sector, alarming statistics show high maternal mortality rates and inadequate reproductive health services plaguing women across Pakistan. According to Dawn, education barriers further exacerbate the gender gap, with around 25 million out-of-school children, mostly girls, missing out on a basic education.
Farah Zia highlighted the impact of unchecked population growth on women’s development and criticized government policies that prioritize population-related incentives over sustainable human development. “The lack of discussion on reproductive rights has serious implications for women’s health, education and economic participation,” Zia stressed.
Both Zia and Khaliq pointed to deep-rooted patriarchal norms and societal resistance, exemplified by the contentious responses to events like the Aurat March. “Society’s resistance to women’s rights exacerbates gender inequality,” Zia said, calling for a concerted effort to challenge and transform patriarchal mindsets.
Finally, the activists called for strong government and society efforts to redefine women’s roles and ensure gender equality. “Positive efforts are essential to integrate women into Pakistan’s socio-economic fabric,” Zia argued, calling for comprehensive policy reforms and grassroots empowerment efforts.
Critically assessing the role of the government sector, Khaliq stressed the need for greater data transparency and collaboration with international organizations. “Accurate data reporting is essential to measure progress and drive policy reforms,” he stressed, calling for greater accountability and transparency.
As the world grapples with persistent gender disparities, the WEF report highlights the imperative for inclusive economic policies and structural reforms to fully empower women. “Economic gender equality is not only a social justice issue, it is also an economic imperative,” the report concluded, urging governments to prioritize gender equality as a catalyst for sustainable development and innovation, reported Dawn. (ANI)
This report has been auto-generated from ANI news service and ThePrint does not assume any responsibility for its content.
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