NATIONAL INITIATIVES TO ADDRESS GENDER-BASED DISCREPANCIES & FOR THE PROMOTION OF LEGAL, ECONOMIC & SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN by President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi

23rd December 2020 In line with Pakistan’s Constitutional obligations and commitment to protect and promote the rights of women under the International Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, ‘leave no one behind’ we envision a state wherein every girl and women enjoy gender equality and all legal, social and economic barriers to women’s empowerment are removed.

To this end and to better inform about the GOP’s initiatives planned for the protection and promotion of the rights of women in the upcoming years, the Honourable President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi, alongside the Federal Ministry of Law and Justice invited key stakeholders for a constructive Policy dialogue and a brainstorming session to discuss the limitations/challenges faced by women in their access to fundamental rights and measures/interventions including girls education necessary to address them.

Pakistan Alliance for Girls Education was invited to present recommendations on Access to Education for Girls. Some of the key recommendations made by PAGE include:

1.  Setting up of the National Working Group on Girls Education that brings key stakeholders together and create a strategic focus on challenges for Girls. A National Working Plan on Girls Education with short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals to be set up providing clear direction for Federal and Provincial Ministries.2.  Education Policy to be devised with Gender lense
3.  Any future education budgeting to be prepared with a view to reducing gender discrepancies in education
4. A safety commission for Schools, that develops a comprehensive framework and mechanisms to ensure the safety of girls in schools. This should include training of teachers, reporting mechanisms, and counselling for students.
5. Community-based blended learning initiatives to be introduced at the Secondary level to reduce high dropout rates of girls especially in rural areas.
6. Investment in teachers’ training and the introduction of the performance management process.

If you would like to share your policy recommendations for Girls Education then kindly email us at info@page.org.pk