Karachi, A recent conference in Karachi focused on the critical role of women and youth in peace-building, stressing the need for their empowerment through knowledge and training. The event, organized by the Aurat Foundation on December 22, 2023, at the Marriot Hotel, saw the participation of 83 individuals, including members of local government, representatives of political parties, law enforcement, health and education professionals, human and women rights commissions, prominent lawyers, academia, students, media, NGOs, CSOs, individual experts, and think tanks.
According to Aurat Foundation, Dr. Syed Mohsin Naqvi, a religious scholar, emphasized the importance of creating and promoting fraternity and harmony among various communities for ensuring peace and prosperity. He advocated for equipping women and youth with knowledge in diverse roles of peace-building through training, thereby enhancing their potential for community improvement.
Ms. Nuzhat Shirin, Chairperson of the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women, highlighted the increasing recognition of women’s role in peace-making and shaping. She underscored the need to implement commitments for utilizing all available resources to establish and sustain peace. Emphasizing empowerment at the grassroots level, she called for strengthening local governments and women’s rights commissions and raising awareness about Counter-Violent Extremism (CVE) laws and increasing women’s leadership participation.
Shahid Rahim, Senior Programme Specialist at SFCG, discussed the necessity of eliminating unjust social and economic relations, including gender inequality, to foster sustainable peace. He highlighted the crucial role of women in prevention and response strategies for sustainable peace.
Ms. Mahnaz Rehman, Resident Director of the Aurat Foundation, pointed out the negative impact of excluding women from peace processes, noting that it deprives half of the population from contributing to political change and promoting peace and harmony. She advocated for women’s engagement in peace processes to advance long-term gender equality.
Ms. Sania Asghar, a member of Women Peace Architects, Karachi, stressed that inclusion goes beyond formal settings and must recognize women’s impact in various contexts, including homes, communities, workplaces, and society at large.
Ms. Mumtaz Mughal, Manager of the SHE the Peacebuilder project, discussed the project’s activities and volunteer actions of Women Peace Architects (WPAs). She emphasized the need for collaboration among women’s organizations and networks and highlighted the necessity of protecting girls and women against violence, particularly gender-based violence, while supporting women’s inclusion and leadership in politics.
The session was moderated by Ms. Malka Khan, Provincial Focal person of SHE the Peacebuilder, Sindh. The conference concluded with a consensus on the vital role of women and youth in peace-building and the need for their empowerment to create a more harmonious society.