ISLAMABAD: Naila Farhat had acid thrown at her by a suitor her family had refused her hand to. Now, 13 years after the attack in which her face was damaged, Naila is working as an assistant nurse at the Acid Survivors Foundation.

At a ceremony held in connection with National Women’s Day on Friday, Naila said she had taken the attacker to court and made sure he was punished.

The event was hosted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Aurat Foundation. Many women who had survived violence of one kind or another participated and shared their experiences in a show of solidarity with other women who might be going through the same situation.

A flood survivor from Kashmore, Razia, said she had started her handicraft business to help support her family.

She added that USAID’s Gender Equity Programme (GEP) and the Aurat Foundation had helped her figure out how to start the handicraft business which now employs many other women from her village

“I am now able to not only support my own family, but also others in my village. The whole experience has made me more confident and courageous,” she said.

The ongoing GEP was initiated by USAID and the Aurat Foundation. The five-year project worth $40 million aims to improve women’s access to justice, expand economic opportunities for women, work for their social and political empowerment, support survivors of gender-based violence and help the civil society and the government in preventing, responding to and eliminating gender-based violence.

Another beneficiary of GEP, Azra Bibi, said that through the programme, she had learnt about labour laws and workers’ rights.

“I learnt about how workers could organise themselves to demand their rights,” she added.

American Ambassador David Hale, who was the chief guest at the event, praised the bravery and determination of Pakistani women.

“Investing in women and girls promotes gender equality and has a ripple effect in that it improves all aspects of society. No country can move ahead if it leaves half its population behind,” he said.

He acknowledged the contributions of five ‘women of strength’ towards gender equality in the country. Each of the five women had participated in GEP, which is the largest USAID programme in Pakistan which specifically works for women empowerment.

GEP Head Simi Kamal said the country-wide project had provided hundreds of sub-grants to universities, governments departments and other organisations which worked for women empowerment.

She said women from all walks of life, including those working from home, lawyers, domestic workers and students have benefited from the project.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2016