Women's Action Forum

Women's Action Forum is a feminist organization that was formed in Pakistan in 1981 by a group of women's rights activists, including Asma Jahangir, Hina Jilani, and Shahla Zia. The organization was established in response to the introduction of the Hudood Ordinances by the Government of Pakistan, which were a set of Islamic laws that severely restricted women's rights in Pakistan. The Women's Action Forum was also influenced by the women's liberation movement in United States, United Kingdom, and other Western countries, as well as the feminist movement in India, led by Vina Mazumdar and Madhu Kishwar. The organization's formation was also inspired by the work of Simone de Beauvoir, Betty Friedan, and Gloria Steinem.

● History

The Women's Action Forum was formed in 1981 in response to the introduction of the Hudood Ordinances by the Government of Pakistan, led by General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. The organization's early members included Asma Jahangir, Hina Jilani, and Shahla Zia, who were all prominent human rights activists in Pakistan. The organization was also influenced by the women's liberation movement in United States, led by Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, as well as the feminist movement in India, led by Vina Mazumdar and Madhu Kishwar. The Women's Action Forum also drew inspiration from the work of Simone de Beauvoir, Germaine Greer, and Andrea Dworkin. The organization's formation was also supported by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the United Nations Development Programme.

● Objectives

The Women's Action Forum's primary objective is to promote women's rights and gender equality in Pakistan. The organization aims to challenge the patriarchal norms and discriminatory laws that restrict women's rights in Pakistan, including the Hudood Ordinances and the Qanun-e-Shahadat. The organization also seeks to promote women's empowerment and gender justice through advocacy, research, and community outreach. The Women's Action Forum is also committed to promoting human rights and social justice in Pakistan, in collaboration with other human rights organizations, such as the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, led by Asma Jahangir and I.A. Rehman. The organization's objectives are also aligned with the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and the Millennium Development Goals.

● Activities and Campaigns

The Women's Action Forum has been involved in various advocacy campaigns and protest movements to promote women's rights and gender equality in Pakistan. The organization has campaigned against the Hudood Ordinances and the Qanun-e-Shahadat, and has also worked to promote women's empowerment and gender justice through community outreach and research. The Women's Action Forum has also collaborated with other human rights organizations, such as the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, to promote human rights and social justice in Pakistan. The organization has also participated in international feminist conferences, such as the United Nations World Conference on Women in Beijing and the Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) conference in Cape Town. The Women's Action Forum has also worked with international organizations, such as the United Nations Development Programme, the World Health Organization, and the International Labour Organization, to promote women's rights and gender equality in Pakistan.

● Organization and Structure

The Women's Action Forum is a non-governmental organization that is governed by a executive committee and a general body. The organization has chapters in various cities in Pakistan, including Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad. The Women's Action Forum is also a member of various national and international networks, including the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) and the International Women's Rights Action Watch (IWRAW). The organization's structure is also influenced by the feminist movement in United States, led by Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan, as well as the feminist movement in India, led by Vina Mazumdar and Madhu Kishwar. The Women's Action Forum has also collaborated with other women's organizations, such as the All Pakistan Women's Association (APWA) and the Pakistan Women's Association (PWA).

● Impact and Legacy

The Women's Action Forum has had a significant impact on the women's rights movement in Pakistan. The organization's advocacy campaigns and protest movements have helped to raise awareness about women's rights and gender equality in Pakistan, and have also contributed to the repeal of some of the discriminatory laws that restrict women's rights in Pakistan. The Women's Action Forum has also inspired a new generation of feminist activists in Pakistan, including Malala Yousafzai and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. The organization's work has also been recognized internationally, and it has received awards from Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the United Nations. The Women's Action Forum has also influenced the work of other human rights organizations in Pakistan, such as the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER).

● Notable Members

The Women's Action Forum has had several notable members, including Asma Jahangir, Hina Jilani, and Shahla Zia. Other notable members include Farzana Bari, Kishwar Naheed, and Fehmida Mir. The organization has also been supported by international feminist activists, such as Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The Women's Action Forum has also collaborated with other human rights activists, such as I.A. Rehman, Abdul Rashid and Asad Butt. The organization's members have also been recognized for their work, and have received awards from Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the United Nations. The Women's Action Forum's notable members have also included academics, such as Rubina Saigol and Nighat Said Khan, and journalists, such as Zubeida Mustafa and Kamila Hyat.

Category:Women's organizations