Anita Weiss: Women’s Rights in Pakistan

Anita M. Weiss, Professor in the Department of International Studies
at the University of Oregon, spoke today about women’s rights in
Pakistan at the Middle East Institute in Washington D.C. Weiss
stressed the importance of getting women’s rights developed in Pakistan. Educating more women was a main issue Weiss spoke about and
the creation of more schools for female education was presented
as a solution. She discussed the fact that only 4% of girls in Pakistan reach the education level of the ninth grade.

Weiss described the fact that Pakistan’s government is working on solutions
that will improve the status of women, but that more action is necessary.

Professor Weiss described three steps that need to be implemented in
order to strengthen women’s rights in Pakistan. The first step focuses
on the legislature and the need to create more laws that support women. The second step describes the need to increase women’s participation in political
elections, both within political candidates and voters.

Weiss discussed the importance of involving more women in the
political sphere, to be able to integrate women more in society.
The third step focuses on women’s economical rights, such as the right
to earn an individual income. If the economical rights are improved,
women’s status will raise in society.
By involving more women in the grass-roots levels, the problems and
solutions can be presented from the group that is affected and more
efficient ideas can be created.

Weiss also pointed out that by improving women’s rights in Pakistan,
it will not only help the women, but also the country’s development.
The U.S. can help Pakistan in this area by working with both the
Pakistan government and with different Non-Governmental-Organizations  (NGO’s).

The both can be assisted by the United States through economic
resources and also with the knowledge of equality and women’s rights. One
example of this is the area of judicial rights.