ISLAMABAD: The National Commission for Human Rights announced on Wednesday that it would launch its unique four-month-long campaign titled “Empower Her” to promote girls’ participation in sports in Pakistan.

Supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, the initiative will run from October 2023 to January 2024 and will include training camps, tournaments, mentoring sessions, panel discussions, and a final exhibition match in Islamabad.

Talking about the initiative, Chairperson NCHR, Rabiya Javeri Agha, said that promoting women in sports was not just about scoring goals on the field; it was about breaking barriers, shattering stereotypes, and championing equality. “When we empower women in sports, we empower society to strive for fairness and inclusivity,” she said.

‘Empower Her’ was an initiative designed to tackle the challenges that hindered girls and women from participating in sports, particularly football, in Pakistan. Despite significant progress in various fields, girls and women in Pakistan still encounter numerous barriers to accessing and participating in sports. These challenges include limited sports infrastructure, inadequate funding, deeply ingrained societal stereotypes and gender biases, a shortage of training and developmental opportunities, and a dearth of female representation at all levels of the sport.

NCHR said that ‘Empower Her’ aimed to address these disparities by establishing a supportive and inclusive sports ecosystem that empowered women and girls to actively participate, compete, and excel in football. The project would initially focus on four cities in Pakistan, such as Karachi, Quetta, Chitral, and Islamabad.

To achieve these goals, the NCHR collaborated with local implementing partners deeply embedded within the beneficiary communities, including the Karishma Ali Foundation in Chitral, the Women United Football Academy in Quetta, and the Karachi United Foundation in Karachi.

“NCHR’s ‘Empower Her’ initiative is an affirmation of the Commission’s commitment to advancing women’s active involvement in sports and fostering an environment where women’s athletes are cherished and celebrated,” said NCHR Chairperson.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2023