• Organisers vow to continue struggle for identity, freedom, justice and equality
• Aurat Azadi March marks Women’s Day in Hyderabad

KARACHI / HYDERABAD: After eight years since its inception, there was no Aurat March on March 8, International Women’s Day. However, a press conference was held at the Karachi Press Club on Saturday where Hum Aurtein, the organisers of Aurat March, announced that the Aurat March will take place on May 11 this year.

It was explained that May is also a very important month for women as it marks the International Workers’ Day and also Mother’s Day. “We work for women to uphold their rights the entire year, but this year we decided to move our march to the month of May as it also carries significance for women,” said activist and classical dancer Sheema Kermani.

She also said that on International Women’s Day, they stand in solidarity with the women in Pakistan as well as the women in Balochistan, Parachinar, Palestine, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Kashmir. “We believe that their and our struggles against patriarchy, war, brutality, gender-based violence and poverty are the same,” she added. “We are all struggling for identity, freedom, justice and equality.”

Jyoti, a labourer, said that she earns a daily amount of 600 rupees at a warehouse. “If it were not for this job, my family would go to bed on an empty stomach,” she said. “I’m a widow. I feel ashamed to come home with this little money every day and face my family,” she said.

Pastor Ghazala Shafique, Aradhia from the transgender community, Najma Maheshwari, Fahmida Riaz, Sajida, Safina Javed, Rosa, Dr Ayesha Narejo, Sara Malkani and Fatima Majeed also spoke.

Declaration demands protection of minorities’ rights

Meanwhile, a declaration issued by Aurat Azadi March on Saturday to mark International Women’s Day called for protection of religious minorities’ rights, setting up of colonies for transgender persons, special packages for malnourished women and an end to war hysteria.

The declaration was passed at a gathering held in Khanabadosh writers cafe in Sindh Museum on Saturday.

The declaration said women’s health centres should be activated at tehsil level and that maternity clinics and reproductive health centres be established at the council level. Government should provide special nutritional packages to malnourished women and girls.

It said specific educational policy should also be designed for transgender individuals who wish to complete their education and dignified employment opportunities should be created for transgender individuals.

Due to rising inflation, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the working-class and farmer women to sustain themselves. A ration card system should be introduced, similar to Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), to meet women’s nutritional needs. Incidence of breast cancer among women is increasing therefore breast cancer screening and treatment facilities be provided at district level, the declaration added.

It said unregistered villages should be registered and their residents should be given legal protection. Female domestic workers should be registered as home-based workers and given legal protection. Safe houses should be established at district level for women subjected to violence.

Strict measures should be taken to eliminate sexual harassment in educational institutions. Separate transportation facilities should be provided for female students, it said.

Government should establish transgender colonies in every city. Separate help desks be established for transgender individuals in hospitals and safe houses allocate specific spaces for them to house those subjected to violence, it demanded.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2025