South Asia Partnership Pakistan (SAP-PK) organised a national conference titled "A Tribute to the Struggle of Women Peasants and Workers" in commemoration of Labour Day. The aim of the conference was to acknowledge and appreciate the struggle of women peasants and agricultural labourers for their rights and highlight the issues facing them.
Around 250 peasants and workers from SAP-PK peasant and worker groups, representatives of civil society organisations, journalists from across the country were among the participants. Shabnam Rashid, co-ordinator from SAP-PK, gave welcome note and briefed the participants about the background of Labour Day. She was critical of the fact that at official and societal level a rural woman is not recognised as woman peasant or worker.
Two documentary films one on Hasht Nagar and second on Anjuman Mazareen Tehreek which were based on farmer's rights were also demonstrated. Shabana Naz from Aurat Foundation appreciated the initiative to pay tribute to women peasants and workers. She said that women should assert themselves to be acknowledged as a human being with equal rights. She suggested that girl students should have also option to take agriculture as optional subject. She said that women in Pakistan are facing multiple problems due to rigid and patriarchal attitude of the society.
Rubina Jamil said that women workers in Pakistan are not entitled to rights enshrined in international human rights treaties. She said that Pakistan has yet to initiate legislation on ILO convention 177, which is about workers working in informal economy.
Irfan Mufti, Deputy Director SAP-PK, speaking on the occasion said that peasants and workers are backbone of the economy but are living in depressing situation. He stressed that this equation needs to be changed. Nasreen Anjum Bhatti, a famous poetess, read out her poetry in appreciation of women peasants and workers. Awards were distributed among fifteen women peasants and workers in recognition of their efforts for mobilising women around their rights.
Mehnaz Rafi, Peter Jacob, Robina Jamil and Misbah Rashid distributed the awards. Husn Ara Magsi from Balochistan and Hameeda Ghanghro from Sindh also spoke on the occasion. Speakers were of the view that peasants and workers throughout the country are going through the same problems and they must be united for their rights. Irfan Mufti in his concluding remarks said that government must take immediate steps to ensure social security, health and education of peasants and workers.-PR