PAKISTAN: Urdu Translation of Handbook for Women Launched

Aimed at empowering women to take on leadership roles in their families, communities and societies, Aurat Foundation on Monday launched the Urdu translation of an international leadership training handbook for women titled ‘Pasand ki Janib (Leading To Choices).'

The Urdu translation of culture-specific adaptations of Leading to Choices is done by Dr. Masuma Hasan. Launched by international organisation Women's learning Partnership, the manual is used to train diverse groups of women and girls in the practice of inclusive, participatory, and horizontal leadership.

The book is based on the premise that effective leadership relies on the ability to communicate, listen, build consensus, and work in partnership with allies to develop a collective vision and implement an action plan. Sharing power and respect creates a strong group identity that both empowers individuals to achieve personal goals and mobilises the group for collective action.

Leading to Choices has been used in interactive training workshops with thousands of participants in more than 25 countries, including women activists, academics, domestic workers, factory workers, NGO leaders, politicians, refugees, students, and indigenous women. The manual is currently available in English, Maghreby-Arabic, Shamy-Arabic, Assamese, French, Hausa, Malay, Meiteilon, Persian, Russian, Shona, Spanish, Swahili, and Uzbek. Bahasa Indonesian, Kokborok, Portuguese, Turkish, and Tagalog editions are forthcoming.

Advisor to Prime Minister on Social Sector Shehnaz Wazir Ali was the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony attended by a large number of civil society activists and representatives of CBOs and NGOs. Other who expressed their views about the manual included feminist thinker and researcher Rubina Saigol, political and civil rights activist and academician Amar Sindhu and training specialist and gender expert Zahra-tul-Fatima. Executive Director, Aurat Foundation Nigar Ahmed chaired the book launch session.

Acting Chief Operating Officer Aurat Foundation Naeem Mriza briefed the audience about the manual and its need in enhancing women leadership in Pakistan. Referring to the manual, Zahra-tul-Fatima reiterated that in order to properly listen and understand what we listen, it is necessary to burry our already-made opinion.

She said that the main emphasis of the manual is on gender-based discrimination that is a major factor behind destruction of socio-cultural fabric of our society and consequent increase in violence in the society. She however expressed concerns that the manual does not recommend any session with men to sensitise them on gender equality and women's right to lead. Appreciating title of the manual ‘Pasand ki Janib', Amar Sindhu said that women are mostly deprived of their basic right of choice in all basic human rights matters.

Robina Saigol was of the view that mentioning of national women's rights movements like ‘Sindhianni tehrik' would have made the manual more interesting and effective in national context. She said instead of manuals, it was the passion and determination that makes true leaders.

Shehnaz Wazir Ali in her concluding remarks appreciated Aurat Foundation's role in paving way for women to realise their role as ‘leaders,' human rights activists as well as legislators and parliamentarians. She expressed hope that such training manual for enhancing women's leadership role would strengthen Pakistani women to come forward and play their role as leaders in bringing sustainable democratic change in Pakistan.