US/PAKISTAN:The United States Announces the U.S.-Pakistan Gender Equity Program

After the bilateral Strategic Dialogue meeting in Islamabad today, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced a new five-year, $40 million Gender Equity Program to be funded by USAID aimed at advancing women's rights and empowerment in Pakistan by:

• Expanding women's access to justice;
  
• Helping women exercise their rights in the workplace, community, and home;
  
• Combating gender-based violence; and,
  
• Strengthening the capacity of Pakistani organizations that advocate for gender equality, women's empowerment and the elimination of gender-based violence.

The U.S. has already committed $12.5 million for this program and nationwide grant-making is expected to begin in August. Grantees will include non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, policy think tanks, academic research and training institutions, professional and business associations, media, civic advocacy organizations, civil society coalitions, as well as partnerships with relevant government or quasi-government entities addressing women's equality and empowerment.