Stereotypes must be broken

Women in Balochistan are deprived of socio-economic rights; they don’t have a clue of their rights inherited by being a woman. Already the literacy ratio is pitiable and the present ongoing political instability is making women here more vulnerable and dismal as the days pass. Balochistan is a primitive society with strong traditional and tribal bonds which further support the stereotypes in society. The society in Balochistan is reluctant to get out of the shell of stereotype thinking they are living in since inception. It’s hard to get the women here to know about their rights because due to their stereotypes they don’t even realize that they are being underprivileged. Domestic violence is what women suffer in every house hold and they keep on suffering cause their mothers and grandmothers suffered feeling no different and blindly imitating them.

Educating girls and women should be the priority to get development in the province because more than 60% of population in Balochistan comprises women. Without this 60% we are not getting anywhere women should be prioritized for decision making and peace building processes for Balochistan. Currently I am employed in a local NGO BIFD by which I am conducting policy dialogues and capacity building workshops in the province on topics related on women in Balochistan, hence creating awareness in women about their rights and empowering them.

BIFD the NGO I am working in, has also submitted a proposal to get women in Balochistan province to get registered for National Identity Cards so that they can get their rights to vote. Women in Balochistan are very creative and endowed with the gift of beautiful and exquisite hand embroidery, by selling the embroidery on the price they deserve; they can turn into economic helping hand in the community thus making their place in the society more secure.

I see pulse wire as a light in the dark, where I can speak for me and the other frail women in the society. It will let the people know about the position of women in Balochistan and will highlight the issues currently faced by the women in Balochistan.