Women in Pakistan: Countering conflicts and building peace

Abstract

This study explores the factors in the ongoing intra-state conflicts in Pakistan that are affecting the lives of women and highlights their role in conflict resolution and peacemaking. Although there is considerable concern about violence against women in conflicts, the present study investigates its other multi-layered and multifaceted impact on people that are often not addressed. This was undertaken using qualitative methods, based on case studies of three women peace activists from Pakistan. The results showed that there was an inter-mingling of different types of conflict that could not be understood in isolation. However, political processes trigger many conflicts. These in turn have multiple impacts on women. The study concludes that the inclusion of women's voices in peacebuilding can ensure that their needs will be addressed during peace negotiations, which should improve the possibility of their sustainability.

Abstract in Urdu

اس تحقیقی مطالعے کا مقصد پاکستان میں جاری اندرونی تنازعات کے محرکات کو جاننا ہے جو کہ خواتین کی زندگی پر اثر انداز ہوتے ہیں۔ اس کے علاوہ تنازعات کے حل اور امن کے لئے خواتین کے کردار پر روشنی ڈالی جائے گی۔ اگرچہ تنازعات کے عورتوں پر اثرات جیسا کے تشدد وغیرہ اکثر زیربحث رہے ہیں؛ مگر موجودہ مطالعے میں ہم ان اثرات کے بہت سے دوسرے پہلئوں پر غور کریں گے۔ تحقیق کے لئے تجزیہ با مطابق معیار کے طریقے کو منتخب کیا گیا ہے اور پاکستان بھر سے تین خواتین امن کارکنان کی آوازوں کو شامل کیا گیا ھے۔ نتائج کے تجزیے کے لئے انٹر پریٹیٹو فینو مینو لو جیکل طریقہ اختیار کیا گیا ہے۔تحقیق کے نتا ئج سے ظا ہر ہو تا ہے کے ملک مختلف تنازعات کے ایک گورکھ دھندے میں جکڑا ہوا ہے جن کو علیحد گی میں سمجھنا بہت مشکل ہے۔ تا ہم ہر تنا زع کے پیچھے سیاسی محرکات موجود ہیں۔ یہ تنازعات عورتوں کی زندگی پر مختلف اثرات مر تب کرتے ہیں۔ مطا لعہ کے نتائج کے مطا بق عو رتوں کی امن مذاکرات میں شمو لیت دیرپا اور پائیدار امن کی ضمانت ہے۔

Keywords:

• conflicts in Pakistan
• impact of conflicts
• women countering conflicts
• role of women in peacebuilding

Keywords:

• پاکستان میں تنازعات؛ تنازعات کے اثرات؛ تنازعات کا مقابلہ کرتی خواتین؛ عورتوں کا امن میں کردار

Notes on contributors

Zille Zahra NAQVI is a gender and research professional and works as Assistant Manager for the Research and Advocacy Cell at Lahore College for Women University (LCWU), Pakistan. She is a graduate of Women Studies and has done MS/M. Phil in Gender and Development Studies. Her main areas of research revolve around gender, sexuality, women, peace and security. She experienced working as Senior Coordinator at ASR Resource Centre and Lecturer at Government Fatima Jinnah College for Women.

Samina RIAZ works as a Lecturer at Lahore College for Women University. She earned an MS degree in Clinical Psychology and is currently a doctoral student. Her areas of research are leadership, psychology of gender and developmental psychology. She has also served as a school teacher for ten years. Email: [email protected]

Notes

1. Muhajirs are the second largest ethnic community living in the Sindh province of Pakistan. Muhajirs are Muslim immigrants of multiple ethnicities who migrated during the partition of 1947 from North India and settled in Pakistan and make up a majority in Karachi.

2. Gojra-City of Pakistan

3. Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP) also known as Pakistani Taliban is an umbrella organization of a number of extremist militant groups active on Pakistan's borders with Afghanistan and within Pakistan. The main objectives of TTP are resistance against the Pakistani state and government and the practice of Islam as per their own interpretation.

4. Sindhis are the largest ethnic community living in Sindh province of Pakistan. They call themselves the indigenous people, distinct from the original Dravidian inhabitants of Sindh and constitute more than half the population of Karachi and other areas of Sindh.

5. Mutihida Quami Movement, also known as MQM, is a secular political party in Pakistan, primarily representing the Urdu-speaking Muhajirs. MQM is a dominant political force in Karachi, and has strong mobilizing potential in the city.

6. Madrassas are Islamic schools running in Pakistan that teach religious Islamic education.

7. Shura is an Arabic word mentioned in Quran for consultation.

8. Pakistani Taliban are a group who are following the ideology of Afghan Taliban but targeting Pakistan.

9. Lashkar-e-Jhangwi and Sipah-e-Sahba are militant groups of Pakistan, involved in several attacks on the Shia sect of Muslims. Both groups have been labelled terrorist organizations and a major security threat by the intelligence officials in Pakistan.

10. Hazaras are a Persian speaking Shia Muslim community mainly living in Afghanistan and the province of Baluchistan in Pakistan.

11. Panchayat or Jirga is a traditional assembly of leaders that make decisions by consensus to settle disputes outside the state's judiciary courts and fixed-laws; it is also known as parallel judiciary systems or arbitration courts prevailing in Asia, particularly in the subcontinent.