An Introduction to Aurat Foundation

An Introduction to Aurat Foundation

Main Areas of Work

Women's political empowerment Women's economic empowerment
Aurat Foundation's critical role is to strengthen and facilitate civil society organisations working with informal sector women workers to enable them to increase their productivity and incomes, get recognition under labour laws and become eligible for social protection. The emphasis is on providing grants, undertaking advocacy for women's economic empowerment through gender-responsive budgetary allocations, and incorporation of women's concerns into the macro-economic policy framework and social protection programmes. This remains a key area of interventions and includes specific inputs in political education and activism to ensure women's involvement in defining their political and social environment. Interventions include seminars, public meetings and dissemination of information. Specific inputs highlight the role and performance of women legislators, leaders and councillors and the measures taken for strengthening their role in political and decision-making institutions.

Democratic governance through transparent and accountable practices

Aurat Foundation works for building and strengthening the foundations of a sustainable democracy; national consensus on strengthening participatory, transparent and accountable governance; impartial, free and fair elections to restore the electorate's rapidly declining faith in the electoral process. Issues like disenfranchisement of women, intra-party women's quotas on general seats, access to disaggregated data are also highlighted.

Repeal of discriminatory laws

Ending violence against women

Ending violence against women is critical for creating an enabling environment for women. Aurat Foundation advocates measures such as policy reform, positive legislation and strengthening law and enforcement mechanisms, in addition to focussed advocacy for elimination of violence against women and implementation of procedures to support female victims and survivors of violence.

Relief, rehabilitation and disaster management

Aurat Foundation contributes massively in relief and rehabilitation work during natural and man-made disasters. It responded to Pakistan's worst ever floods in 2010 by immediately launching the 'Motherland Flood Relief Campaign'. Its grassroots-level networks in

This is a key area of Aurat Foundation's work. Total repeal or reform of discriminatory laws Against women and minorities, such as the Hudood Ordinances, the Law of Evidence, the Qisas and Diyat Provisions in the Pakistan Penal Code and the Citizenship Act remain high on our agenda as these laws still carry a number of discriminatory provisions. Elimination of negative customary practices against women is also pursued.

All districts of Pakistan enabled it to respond rapidly to the catastrophe through its nationwide flood relief campaign. The 'Motherland' website launched by Aurat Foundation became a hub of local, regional and international relief activity with the support of its regional and international partners. During the IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) crisis in 2008-2009, and to date, it has been involved in major local initiatives to protect vulnerable children and women in Swabi, Mardan and Swat. During earthquake 2005, it was a leading national organisation to support earthquake victims. AF has also developed a draft 'National Policy on IDPs'.

Institutionalising response from government and political parties

Aurat Foundation pursues official national and international commitments and decisions announced in public or in party manifestoes by governments and political parties like NPA, CEDAW, through policy dialogue and advocacy with decision-makers and political party leaders for increasing women's access to information, resources and decisionmaking. It seeks their institutionalisation through laws, notifications, budgetary allocations and agreements and works for their implementation in letter and spirit.

Chief Executive Officer, Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF); Development Practitioner; Chartered Accountant

Development Practitioner; former Cabinet Secretary & Ambassador; Researcher

Economist; Human Rights Activist; Development Practitioner

Chairperson, Rural Support Programmes Network, Pakistan; Development Practitioner

Chairperson National Commission on the Status of Women; Women's Rights Activist

Architect & Planner; Social Researcher and Writer; Development Practitioner

Chairman Saiban; former Director, Katchi Abadis, KDA; Development Practitioner

Educationist; Women's Rights Activist

Director Human Rights Commission of Pakistan; Human Rights Activist, Senior Journalist

Executive Director, South Asia Partnership Pakistan; Development Expert; Human Rights Activist

Executive Director, Khowendo Kor; Human Rights Activist

Development Expert, Public Policy Consultant, Writer and Poet