Status of Women in Pakistan.pptxStatus of Women in Pakistan.pptx

Status of Women in Pakistan.pptx

1. Status of Women in Pakistan LECTURE 5 BY SAHER SALEEM

2. Status of Women’s health in Pakistan Health Status of women in Pakistan is not very commendable REASONS OF GRIM HEALTH STATUS: The low health status of women is the result of women’s lower social , economic , and cultural standing . Bias in food distribution leads to nutritional deficiencies among female children Early marriages of girls and excessive childbearing High illiteracy rate Economic dependence on men Lack of female service providers In terms of seeking health for herself, a woman has no control over decision-making, difficulty in accessing health centers and discomfort with communicating with male physicians.

3. STATS Life expectancy of female is lower than male. There are 108 men for every 100 women Female infant mortality rate is high- 85 per 1000 live births as compared to male 182 per 1000 live births Almost 40 percent of total female population is anomic Nearly 11 000 women and girls die annually while giving birth . Public spending on healthcare : In terms of total health expenditure as a percentage of the GDP in 2021-2022, the spending was 3 %. (7bn) Given the low coverage of governmental health facilities, the private sector has emerged as the principal provider of health services in the country contributing to 60%–70% of the health care in Pakistan.

4. Policies of the Government : In the Constitution of Pakistan, Articles 38(a), 38(d) and 25(1) refer to women's health The SAP was launched in 1992–1993 to accelerate improvement in the social indicators. Family Planning Policy (FP)-2020 Objectives : Raising Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) from 35 percent to 55 percent by 2020 . The federal government will provide the amount for the contraceptive requirement as US $186 million over the period 2013 to 2020 . Family planning will be a priority for LHWs, who cover 70 percent of rural areas.

5. Status of Women in Education Women's education in Pakistan is a fundamental right of every female citizen, according to Article 37 of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 . Pakistan ranks 156 out of 158 countries on global gender parity index (WEF) Female literacy rate is 65 percent as compared to 80 percent of male Reasons of discrimination: Gendered division of Labor Militancy problem Bad condition of School Facilities Traditional mindset

6. GOVERNMNET SPENDING ON EDUCATION According to the 2021-22, Economic Survey of Pakistan released on Thursday, the cumulative education expenditure by the federal and provincial governments in the financial year 2020-21 totaled 1.77 per cent of GDP According to the Human Development Report, 2022 Pakistan is ranked 161 out of 192 countries in the United Nations Development Programmer's (UNDP) Human Development Index (HDI ) ranking Currently 22.8 million or 44% children in Pakistan are not enrolled in school, with the dominance of it being girls WHAT CAN BE DONE: By allocating at least 6% of the GDP to education Pakistan can then guarantee the development of a structured and improved infrastructure of educational strategies . Financing the human capital, such as education, health and nutrition, are foundation for building a progressive foundation for Human Security.

7. WOMEN AND EMPLOYMENT The percentage of women in the labor force remains a low 26% for women ages 15-64 years Women in Pakistan tend to be less “visible” with respect to their work outside the home and their contributions to household income, as well as their participation in social and political life ISSUES: Less wages Hostile environment Harassment

8. ISSUES Double burden of labor due to unremitting domestic responsibilities at home . Women are often prevented from advancing economically, due to social restrictions on women's movement and gender mixing. Low literacy rate

9. GOVERNMENT’S INITIATIVES Commitment to MDGs and SDGs The National Plan of Action and National Policy for Development and Women’s Empowerment are consistent with international gender commitments. The government has also started the national women transfer scheme and Benazir Income Support Program ( BISP ) which facilitates women providing a monthly cash transfer to the woman head of the household . The government has established a 10 percent quota for women’s employment in civil service.

10. WOMEN AND LAW Constitution- “ There should be no discrimination on the basis of sex alone ” At official level, the following Laws have been adopted in Pakistan to safeguard women : Muslim family Laws Ordinance (MFLO) of 1961 . The West Pakistan Family Courts Act of 1964 . Dowry and Bridal Gifts Restriction Act, 1976. Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2004. Protection of Women Act ( 2006) revised the Hudood Ordinance . Enforcement of Women Ownership Rights Act 2012. Acid victims Act, Honor killing Act and Women’s Protection Act.

11. PAKISTAN COMMITEMNT TO CEDAW The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was adopted by the General Assembly in 1979 It is also called International Bill of rights for women Women are guaranteed basic rights of health, education, politics and family planning Pakistan ratified CEDAW in 1996 ISSUE: Pakistan has not adopted any legal framework for translating the CEDAW provisions to its domestic laws

12. Potent Root Causes of Gender Inequality in our Country Mass illiteracy and social narrow-mindedness Discrimination in the acquisition of education Misinterpretation of religious injections No representation of third gender in legislation Lack of economic empowerment of women and third gender Inhuman social practice against women

13. Potent Root Causes of Gender Inequality in our Country Imbalance quota system Controlled freedom of speech Pro-men government policy; maintenance of status quo Vicious cycle of poverty Regressive cultural value Agricultural base economy Lack of implementation of women protection law

14. Reversing the tides---moving from disparity toward equality Parity in the acquisition of education True interpretation of gender related notions Economic empowerment of women and third gender Gender -centered vigilant media Appropriate quota for women and third gender Implementation of women protection laws

15. GENDER AND GOVERNANCE Governance can be defined as designing the policies by the governing body of organizations while also remain vigilant of the results of those policies after implementation. Gender and Governance thus refers to Participation of all Genders in governance machinery i.e. Their role in crafting policies, decision making and even related to their practical presentation and status in the political landscape from internal affairs to the foreign policy decision making . Yardstick to know the development strategy of any country- How?

16. Gender-Based Variations in Politics in Pakistan barriers to voting barriers to seeking elected office barriers to access within political parties barriers to representation in policymaking and governance.

17. GENDER AND GOVERNANCE Obstacles to women participation in politics : Lack of public support Entrenched traditional values ( encompasses the social norms that make it more difficult for women to leave their traditionally domestic roles) Lack of confidence Misinterpretation of religion Lack of financial means Lack of access to technology Violence and Intimidation Negative role of ICTs

18. GENDER QUOTA IN POLITICS Gender quotas, many social scientists have long believed, are instruments via which male dominance over a country’s political system can be challenged and eventually eliminated

19. GENDER QUOTA IN POLITICS Political quota from alpha to omega Constitution of 1956 5 reserved for e ach wing Eligible to vote for a general seat & women seats. But no election held Constitution of 1962 o6 seats for women each wings female suffrage on the basis of women territorial constituencies was abolished, and the women were to be elected by the assemblies through indirect elections

20. GENDER QUOTA IN POLITICS Constitution of 1973 10 seats were reserved for women in the National Assembly while no seat in the Upper House or Senate. Under the Revival of Constitution Order (P.O.14 of 1985) reserved seats for women were increased from 10 to 20

21. Impact of political quota in Pakistan SOCIAL CHANGE Social played role beyond home or reproductive agent Women accomplished modernity IMPACTS ON POLITICS : Opened door of women participation in politics Role in decision making PROPOGATION OF WOMEN RIGHTS

22. Impact of political quota in Pakistan CHANGE IN POLITICAL MANIFESTO women issues given priority in manifesto Change in mindset about women. Diversity of women leadership. Legitimization of women organizations Impact at personal life Confidence building

23. Past papers What are the pros and cons of gender quota in politics? Give your views on the impact of gender quota in politics in Pakistan . 2016 Women active political participation could stabilize democracy and boost economic development". Comment on this statement within context of socio-economic realities of Pakistani society . 2017 What is the status of women's health in Pakistan. How it could be improved within the available economic resources ? 2017 Believing in the statement that “women cover half the sky”, do you think we need equal number of women in all spheres of public domain, especially in politics ? 2018 Women’s participation in labor force has increased recently yet women continue to perform their reproductive roles. Discuss the challenges encountered by women as a result of their paid employment worldwide with especial reference to Pakistan 2019

24. Pros and Cons of women quota Effective way of achieving a better gender balance Legislated quotas can circumvent conservative party leadership Once some women are elected, they serve as role models for other women. Legislated quotas engage political parties in finding suitable women candidates CONS: Legislated quotas are discriminatory against men Women elected through legal quotas are less respected and have no real power Quotas distort the idea of representation and work against women Legislated quotas benefit the wrong women Legislated quotas (especially constitutional quotas) are very difficult to pass