Gender Issues in Pakistan: Challenge and Response

This event follows the AGM of the UK Friends of Khwendo Kor (which starts at 1.45pm) which is open to members and non members

‘Gender Issues in Pakistan: Challenge and Response’

In this presentation, Dr. Sheikh will talk about the issues being faced by women in Pakistan in all spheres of life – political, economic, educational, cultural and security. There is no doubt that discriminatory laws and practices are widespread, attitudes and perceptions are negative, and social indicators are not encouraging. Farhat argues that despite these multiple challenges, Pakistani women have not only stood their ground, but have boldly confronted the status quo, and made remarkable achievements in all spheres of life that affect them.

Dr. Farhat Sheikh has been working on gender equality and women’s rights issues in Pakistan for the last 20 years both in her professional capacity and in her personal life, as an ardent advocate of women’s rights. She has worked in senior management and advisory positions in international organizations including CIDA (now GAC), Oxfam-GB, ActionAid-UK, The Asia Foundation-USA, and UNDP; and with government organizations such as NDMA and ERRA. Major areas of work included women’s empowerment, women’s political and economic participation, gender-based violence and gender issues in humanitarian context. Being the daughter of a diplomat, she has had a multi-cultural and liberal upbringing and speaks several languages