Strong women’s leadership stressed

Women’s rights activists have called for greater participation of women in political leadership and stronger state initiatives to counter the backlash against women’s rights and promote gender equality.

The call came at a public lecture titled “Backlash Against Women’s Rights and Ways to Strengthen Women’s Political Leadership” held at Central Women’s University (CWU) in the capital on Thursday.

The speakers included Professor Khawar Mumtaz, chairperson of Pakistan’s National Commission on the Status of Women; Dr Afra Jalabi, affiliate assistant professor in the Department of Religions and Cultures at Concordia University in Canada; and Engineer Nabila Tasnid, convener of the Dhaka district of the National Citizen Party (NCP).

Drawing on Pakistan’s experience, Professor Khawar Mumtaz said women’s participation in social and political activities was often portrayed as Western influence, while social and religious misinterpretations were used to restrict their rights and freedoms. She added that opposition to women’s rights had increasingly become a political tool.