SHE-The Peacebuilder: Women’s Inclusion in Transforming Violent Extremism

‘SHE – The Peacebuilder’ project is implemented by Aurat Foundation (AF) with the support of Search for Common Ground (SFCG) and collaboration with Kadam Communications and Consultants (KCC) and Glow the Consultants. The project’s overall goal was to enhance women’s role and influence in peacebuilding in Pakistan. The program focused on preventing violence and extremism, conflict resolution, promoting dialogue, adopting a common ground approach, addressing gender-based violence (GBV), understanding government laws, policies, and initiatives for protecting the rights of women, children, religious minorities, persons with disabilities, transgender individuals, ethnic groups, and other vulnerable populations.

During their learning journey, Women Peace Architects (WPAs) have acquired insights and developed the following recommendations for promoting peacebuilding at various levels of society and state.

Short Term Recommendations:

1. Ensure that all citizens are treated equal before law without discrimination on the bases of sex, class, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, pregnancy through effective and accountable governance committee system and local government institutes.
2. Ensure 50% proportion of representation of women in provincial and district peace committees and; encourage appointment of women as head of these committees.
3. Ensure minority representation for speakers and deputy speakers’ seats at Provincial, Senate and National Assemblies. The first step has already been taken towards this goal, which is highly appreciable.
4. Ensure 50% proportion of representation of women in decision-making bodies, political parties, and governance structures, both in the public and private sectors. This include leadership positions, executive committees, governance and parliamentary boards and standing committees etc.
5. Ensure that the TV channel refrain from negative portrayal of women and; governments publicize OFFICIAL AND SEMI OFFICIAL HELPLINES for violence survivals and citizens in distress through print and electronic medium.
6. Ensure that all political parties to contest elections award 15 % tickets on general seats to women in winnable constituencies, either through reserved seats or political party’s quotas, or statutory legislation.
7. Ensure implementation of prevention from domestic violence and anti-sexual harassment, and customary laws which ban swara, wani, badl e sulah and marriage with Quran as punishable crimes.
8. Ensure GBV training of all female/male cadres of law enforcement agencies. It should be part of their professional training curriculum. The staff performance on this subject should be evaluated as part of their ACR.
9. Ban hat, inflammatory and provocative speeches at every level and entity both public and private. Stop extremist groups and individuals from exploiting cyberspace for purposes such as recruitment, fundraising, hateful propaganda and using these digital platforms to broaden their influence. f
10. Governments should monitor and counter extremist content online, promoting digital literacy and critical thinking skills to help individuals discern misinformation, disinformation and hateful material.
11. All stakeholders should undertake a review and revision of the Indecent Advertisements Prohibition Act, 1963, to eliminate the commercial objectification, commodification, and exploitation of women as sex objects.

Medium term Recommendation:

12. The Provincial Government should substantially increase budget allocations for law enforcement agencies, GBV protection departments, and commissions to ensure effective implementation of laws and maintenance of peace. Moreover, there is need to revise the primary and secondary education curriculum to include chapters on civil rights (articles from fundamental rights chapter of the Constitution), peace, gender, minority, disability rights, and digital rights.
13. Ensure the provision of financial assistance, microcredit, and skill development programs to empower minority women economically. Promotion of entrepreneurship and access to business opportunities for minority women.
14. Revisit and revise the National Action Plan 2014, to integrate a gender perspective into the plan and ensure role of civilian authorities and women’s rights organizations in developing women-focused strategies and; implementing actions against extremism and countering violent extremism (CVE).

Long term Recommendations:

15. The provincial government should allocate a significant budget for survivors of extremism to support their socio-economic rehabilitation. Governments should develop programs to offer counseling and psychosocial support to individuals affected by natural disasters, conflicts, displacement, and radicalization.
16. Develop an effective de-radicalization awareness and capacity-building programme at the party level for helping party voters and citizens to abandon extremist views, shun violence and hate speech and; reintegrate them into healthy activities and debate within and outside the party.
17. Improve access to quality education and vocational training programs, providing young people with skills that enhance employability and resilience against extremist narratives.
18. In local Government System, develop and implement programs that identify and support individuals at risk of radicalization, providing mentorship and guidance.