WSF Karachi and Women's Movement
Madhuresh Kumar | Sun Mar 26 16:37:55 UCT 2006
March 26 2006
It is now confirmed that women's movement here have boycotted the WSF Karachi due to patriarchal nature of the organising committee and negligence of their concerns. Deep Sayeeda, a prominent peace activist from Lahore narrated how after actively participating in the organising process iniitally Women's Movement had to withdraw because of patriarchal attitude and decisions which were not included even though were commonly discussed and debated. When all the prominent women's organisation withdrew from the committees the organising committee put Sayeeda's name as a token there knowing fully well that due to her differing positions she won't be coming for meetings. She is feeling hurt at this but is enthusiastically helping the Indian delegates and making their stay here comfortable, but staying away from meetings.
Ume-Laila Azhar of Aurat Foundation today again confirmed this and also added that they most of the women's organisations are not holding any programmes at the Forum and in comparision to previous Forums there are very few events organised by women's organisation in general. She also felt that the overall programme has failed to cover the women's question at a level which was needed in a society like Pakistan.
My own observation is that this is a part of general pattern here and reflective of the feudal society. It is also reflected in the presence of women at the Forum here and more or so their presence in various plenaries and seminars. The concern has been also voiced by many outsiders who are amazed at the level of women's participation in the Forum.
WSF Pakistan here has also not made any attempt to clarify the situation. As I had mentioned on the list earlier that how A H Nayyar said in response to this question that " We need to decide where we want to focus" and so they have successfully ignored it and it is very much visible in the programme and womens participation here.
Aurat Foundation did hold a rally here today but stayed away from any confrontation and chose not to raise this issue.
It remains to be seen if there is some action taken or something more happens on this issue in coming days...
madhuresh
--
CACIM - India Institute for Critical Action : Centre in Movement
A-3, Defence Colony, New Delhi 110 024
karachi – wsf 2006 – wsf – www.agp.org – www.all4all.org