By Imtiaz Hussain/Abdul Rafay Siddiqui
KARACHI: The Provincial Advocacy Forum for the Empowerment of Women Agricultural Workers (WAWs) of Sindh convened at a local hotel in Karachi, drawing attention to the challenges faced by women in agriculture and setting the stage for future initiatives aimed at their empowerment. Organized by AwazCDS-Pakistan and NARI Foundation in collaboration with the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC), the forum brought together a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including civil society organizations (CSOs), government officials, activists, media, youth, academics, and members of the Women Agriculture Workers Council.
Moderated by Barrister Rida Tahir, a Women and Gender Expert, the session highlighted the ongoing efforts of the SHRC in advocating for women’s and children’s rights. Tahir praised the SHRC’s work on reviewing laws such as those pertaining to child domestic labor and the Sindh Hindu Marriage Restriction Act. Iqbal Ahmed Detho, Chairperson of the SHRC, elaborated on the Commission’s expanded focus, which now includes legal aid for labor and domestic violence cases in addition to its original mandate covering inmates. Detho also touched on the SHRC’s training programs for Judicial Magistrates on key legislation, including the Bonded Labour Abolition Act 2015 and child labor laws.
The forum was opened by Zia ur Rehman, Chief Executive of AwazCDS-Pakistan, who set forth the forum’s objectives: to advocate for the rights and empowerment of WAWs in Sindh. Rehman stressed the need for collaborative efforts to address the significant challenges faced by women in the agricultural sector and highlighted the role of the Labour Court in supporting these initiatives.
Justice Arshad Noor Khan, Judicial Member of the SHRC, discussed the Commission’s role in addressing the needs of WAWs, emphasizing their critical contribution to the economy and the necessity of acknowledging their rights and contributions. Shahzadi, a representative from the Women Agriculture Workers Council in Sukkur, shared her personal experiences, shedding light on the struggles, including low wages, lack of social protection, and inadequate access to resources and training that women in agriculture face.
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