Aurat March Islamabad is an independent, non-partisan, intersectional feminist collective founded on February 20th 2022. To strengthen the ongoing struggle, many feminists in the city created the Aurat March platform, where women, transgender persons and non-binary people could exercise their political agencies without the influence of any political party and challenge patriarchy under the intersectional feminist framework. Aurat March Islamabad ideologically is against all forms of exploitation based on gender, ethnic identity, sect, class, sexuality and nation by Capitalism, Religious Fundamentalism, Global Imperialism, and new forms of feudalism. Like last year, this year, Aurat March will gather outside Islamabad Press Club to commemorate International Women's Day on March 8th 2023.

Aurat March has consistently highlighted the challenges women across the country face because of patriarchal oppression, and this year it will focus on Climate Change as its central theme. Although natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes do not discriminate in their destruction, socioeconomic inequalities make some groups more vulnerable to getting killed in the aftermath of these calamities. Women, especially those from rural and working-class backgrounds, are one such group. Many studies have demonstrated that large-scale natural disasters have considerably lowered the life expectancy of women. While there are several reasons for that, the most prevalent being the cultural norms and caregiving responsibilities of women, which cause women not to prioritise themselves and seek help immediately. Pakistani women, mainly from rural communities, have similar tendencies because of the deeply patriarchal society.

Pakistan is ranked among the top fifth most vulnerable countries on the index rate of climate change. Still, Pakistan's Environmental protection budget 2022-2023 allocation remained as low as 10 billion rupees, not enough to combat massive heatwaves, floods and other natural disasters. The previous government reportedly allocated Rs109.38 billion to the "10 billion Tree Tsunami" project and failed to ensure accountability of funds.

All these state measures failed terribly to prevent the devastations of recent floods in Pakistan. The floods have affected over 33 million people and destroyed or damaged more than 1 million houses. At least 1,100 people were killed by floodwaters that inundated tens of thousands of square kilometres of the country. Around 150 bridges and 3,500 kilometres (2,200 miles) of roads were damaged, and more than 700,000 livestock and 2 million acres of crops and orchards were destroyed. On top of that, inflation in Pakistan set a new record in January 2023 and reached the highest level of 48 % after 1975, owing to supply constraints since thousands of containers of food items, raw materials and equipment are trapped at ports. We consider climate change a byproduct of Global Capitalism that has contributed to the degradation of the environment through its exploitative and expansionist approach towards economic growth. Poor developing countries like Pakistan bear the brunt of consumerist culture, privatisation of natural resources, rent-seeking policies, IMF debts and global expansion of the neo-liberal market economy despite having less than 1 % contribution to global warming.

Among the most affected during the flood and ongoing economic crisis are women from low-income groups who faced the devastating impacts of floods due to deeply-rooted systematic patriarchal & capitalist oppression. This year Aurat March Islamabad has chosen "Feminization of Climate Justice" as its core theme to address and highlight the gendered impacts of climate change on women and their absence from the environmental justice policy, activism and practice at all levels. Due to displacement caused by floods, women face both psychological and physical forms of violence and become subject to rape, harassment, abductions, sex trafficking and early and forced marriages and face period poverty. Since women are solely responsible for socio-reproductive labour at home during and after disasters, so they become burdened with more unpaid care work with severe nutritional deficits.

On International Women's Day, we demand:

Feminizing Climate Justice:

1.     We demand that the government ensures at least 50% of women's participation in climate change-related decision-making at the grassroots and national levels from Pakistan.

2.     We demand the immediate rehabilitation of all flood-affected communities and compensation for the damage to their houses, livestock, agriculture and livelihood.

3.     We demand that government agencies and climate change policymakers shift from a  technical and administrative approach to address climate-stressed situations to a more social and vulnerability-focused approach, as disasters are not gender-neutral and have a differential impact on women and marginalised sections of society.

4.     Professional training on gender-centric environmental justice must be imparted to ensure the policies are responsive to the needs of women in Pakistan's urban and rural areas.  

5.     We demand the government invest in building resilient local communities through disaster preparedness, mitigation and response training.

6.     We demand that the state use local media outlets to raise awareness of environmental and climate crises and issues concerning women and marginalised groups, such as the vulnerability of women and children in a disaster situation, disaster preparedness, early warning systems and guidelines regarding land encroachment near rivers to prevent loss of lives during floods.

7.     We demand a judicial inquiry against the power nexus between the landed political elite and land mafias such as Bahria Town and Defence Housing Authority for displacing indigenous communities and destroying the ecology, flora and fauna in the name of so-called development in Malir, Multan and other cities.

End to Period Poverty:

8.     We demand that period products be accessible to all women, regardless of their socio-economic status or geographic location. This includes providing free period supplies in community centres, health clinics, and shelters and ensuring menstrual products are available in all public restrooms.

9.     We demand that period education be mandatory in the middle school curriculum. This comprehensive education should cover menstrual health, hygiene, and management topics. It should also be inclusive of all genders and include information on different menstrual products.

10.  We demand free period supplies be available in all schools, including rural ones. Schools should also ensure clean and accessible bathrooms for menstruating students. The lack of access to period products and appropriate facilities is a significant barrier for girls to attend school, which hinders their education and future opportunities.

11.  We demand the removal of luxury tax on period supplies. The high cost of these supplies and the luxury tax make it difficult for women, especially those in rural areas, to access affordable period products. This basic necessity should not be treated as a luxury item.

12.  We demand an end to the stigma and shame associated with menstruation. Menstruation is a natural bodily process, and we must work to change cultural attitudes and beliefs that perpetuate negative stereotypes and discrimination. This includes promoting positive representations of menstruation in media and advertising and providing education and awareness campaigns to promote menstrual equity and break down harmful stereotypes.

13.  We demand increased funding for research into menstrual health and hygiene. This includes research on the causes and treatments of menstrual disorders and the development of sustainable and affordable menstrual products.

Economic Justice:

14.  We demand that the government allocate sufficient funds and interest-free loans to rehabilitate women farmers, sharecroppers, and small landholders in Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan and AJK  so they can recover from the damages of recent floods and sustain their livelihoods.

15.  We demand that government must regularise contracts of all daily wagers, including teachers, nurses, doctors, municipal workers, etc.

16.  We demand a living wage and protection from harassment and dignity in the workplace for the working class, including women, men and transgender persons.

17.  We demand that the state provide social security to all men, women, the elderly and persons with disability who are recently affected by the floods.

18.  We also demand that the state must provide income opportunities to transgender persons who had been in hiding, fearing for their lives after the transphobic smear campaigns orchestrated by the likes of Maria B and Senator Mushtaq.

19.  We demand that the right to unionisation be given so that the students and labourers working in corporations, factories, and real estate could raise their voices against capitalistic exploitation.

20.  We demand formalisation of the informal sector where the majority of women are working and not entitled to benefits given under the country's labour laws. 

21.  We demand budgetary allocation for universal childcare in all formal workplaces across Pakistan.

22.  The state must launch massive land reforms and allot land to women, addressing land inequality.

23.  We demand the state revise the civil inheritance laws to ensure women receive their rightful equal share.

24.  We demand dignified public, low-income housing schemes for women and vulnerable groups across Pakistan.

25.  We demand cuts in the defence budget and instead utilise it for development purposes such as health, education, and skill development of young women and men.

26.  We demand that the government and CDA end the so-called encroachment drives against Khokhas in Islamabad, which affects the income of the poor working class in the city.

End to Patriarchal Violence against Women:

27.  We demand justice for women in Pakistan who have been murdered, mutilated, harassed, trafficked, and forcefully converted in 2022. We grieve for the murder of Daya Bheel, the abduction of Mahil Baloch, F9-Park and Vehari Rape Incidents and the murder of an innocent girl from Barkhan Balochistan who was killed in the name of honour. We ask state institutions to improve their judicial and investigation processes to increase the conviction rate of crimes against women.

28.  Given the rising gender-based violence, we demand Pakistan to declare an emergency and take an ecological approach to stop all forms of direct, cultural and structural violence against women.

29.  All federal and provincial governments must put in place support structures for survivors of violence, such as shelter homes, crisis centres, free legal aid, psycho-social counselling and rehabilitation support so that they rebuild their lives

30.  Police must be gender-sensitized to be able to conduct an investigation of gender-based crimes in an informed manner and must be adequately trained in gathering evidence.

31.  The conviction rate for gender-based violence is less than 1%. We demand the end of the culture of impunity in gender crimes. In such cases, the judiciary must dispense justice in the shortest possible time (6 months).

32.  We demand a national-level media campaign should be developed to create social awareness and zero tolerance of violence against women.

33.  We demand that relevant agencies be influential in curbing digital violence against women.

Representative Democracy & Rule of Law:

34.  One of the major agendas of Aurat March is to demand increased political participation and representation of women in parliament.

35.  We demand the gender gap in voter registration, which is still 8.9 million, must be bridged before the upcoming election.

36.  We demand that the state take adequate measures to ensure that women are not prevented from casting their votes because of oppressive social norms and that immediate action be taken in case of such a case arises in any constituency. 

37.  We demand that the gender quota in the legislature be increased to 33%, and the modality of the direct election on reserve seats for women should be adopted.

38.  We demand amendments in Election Act 2017 to make it mandatory for political parties to give at least 33% representation to women in their decision-making bodies and ensure that at least 33% of party tickets are given to women members.      

39.  We demand that at least 33% of women parliamentarians be included in the cabinet and the standing parliamentary committee.

40.  We demand that violence against women in politics be curbed and stringent actions are taken against those who indulge in sexual harassment, pass indecent remarks, and threaten or humiliate women politicians.  

41.  We demand an end to character assassination and abductions of women politicians and journalists by the state authorities since this creates a hostile environment for women and discourages the participation of women in political spheres in the future.

42.  We demand that all attempts by the state and its institutions to suppress the voice of dissent shall be treated as a violation of the fundamental rights of citizens as per the constitution of Pakistan.

43.  We demand that freedom of expression, assembly and protest be protected, and actions should be taken against those who suppress this right of citizens.

44.  We demand that the Pakistani government highlight the plea of Afghan, Kashmiri, Yemeni, and Irani women on all platforms, demanding an end to state-sponsored patriarchal oppression against them.

45.  We demand Pakistani state end extra-judicial murders and forced abductions of Baloch, Pushtoon, Sindhi and other religious minorities by the law enforcement agencies and take action against the forces which have abridged the constitutional rights of citizens of the state for no crime. 

Health and Education: 

46.  We demand rehabilitation of all public schools and Basic Health Units damaged after the floods to prevent the drop-out rate of girls and boys in all affected provinces. 

47.  We demand that the government take immediate actions to provide all the flood-affected women living in shelters safe health care with adequate privacy and ensure that the education of young girls and boys is not interrupted.

48.  We demand that education and health services be accessible to rural women by establishing more public schools and hospitals, especially in remote areas such as Gilgit Baltistan and Chitral, where students and patients must travel for hours, often on foot, to avail of these facilities.

49.  As most public schools and hospitals are understaffed, we demand that the government ensure the provision of sufficient teachers and medical staff at these facilities.

50.  Considering the low quality of education and health facilities the state provides, we demand effective measures to improve the quality of education in public schools and hospital services.

51.  After disasters, women are not provided enough nutrition to conceive or raise a child efficiently. Therefore, we demand the state take severe awareness-raising measures regarding birth spacing and family planning, especially after floods.

52.  We demand that special attention be paid to the specific needs of female students and parents and that gendered analysis of the institution is conducted to make them responsive to such needs.

53.  We demand that the education curriculum be reformed to represent marginalized religious and ethnic communities in a positive light and remove all the exclusionary and hateful content.

54.  We demand that the buildings of public schools for girls are made secure through the construction of boundary walls and safe toilets with running water, as the lack of these primary facilities is the reason for the high percentage of girls drop out, especially after puberty.

55.  We demand that sanitary pads and other essential period-related things be provided free of cost at public schools to retain female students.

56.  Pakistan is ranked among countries with high maternal mortality rates and further inequalities in access to health facilities, resulting in a considerably higher proportion of mortality among rural women during childbirth. We demand that government must ensure the provision of maternity care in all villages in rural areas throughout the year and increase the number of skilled midwives who can provide better antenatal and delivery care.

57.  We demand that the government design awareness-raising campaigns address the exclusionary social practices preventing women from seeking medical help and not getting an education.

58.  We demand that the education and health budget be increased to five per cent of the GDP and all the recent cuts made be reversed.

 

We call upon all conscience citizens of the country and the secular democratic force to join hands with women to smash the patriarchy by raising their voices and fighting against all expressions of patriarchy in the sociocultural, economic and political spheres.