More Women In Climate Change Decision: Aurat March Organisers In Pakistan List Demands

Other demands in the list included raising minimum wage allocations, and moving away from anti-poor policies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and debt traps.

Organisers of Pakistan’s feminist collective Aurat March on Monday presented a list of 60 demands including putting an end to patriarchal violence, increase in the representation of women in decision making at all levels regarding climate change, reduction in defence budget and an increase in the allocation of health and education. 

The demands were put forward by womens’ rights activists before the media at a pre-march press conference at Lahore’s National Press Club. 

Other demands in the list included raising minimum wage allocations, and moving away from anti-poor policies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and debt traps.

As per a report by Pakistan’s Dawn, the organisers said they decided to focus on “feminisation of climate justice” following the aftermath of the floods that ravaged the country last year claiming the lives of 1,100 people and damage to a million homes. 

While, overall relief and rehabilitation efforts were required and are still needed today, they said, adding that specific impact on women and young girls had been largely neglected in the mainstream discourse, reported the publication. 

In light of this neglect, the organisers said that the key demands were advanced for this year by Aurat March Islamabad which included bringing an end to period poverty, ensuring economic justice and budgetary allocations for universal childcare in all formal work spaces in the country and formalisation of informal sector/market which employs a majority of women.

During the press briefing, the organisers claimed that their application for grant of no objection certificate was turned down by the district administration withouts any reason just days before the march 

The organisers announced that Aurat March 2023 would begin from outside the National Press Club in Lahore at 2pm and conclude at D-Chowk as per routine on March 8. The collective has been organising its feminist march since 2018 on the same route.