Sitara Ayaz, Provincial Minister for Social Welfare and Women Development in Khyber Pakhtunkhwar, is devoted to fighting for the rights of women in her province, where women have long been fighting for their rights.

Ayaz receives development aid for the construction of shelters for homeless women, people who have just been released from jail and singles with jobs.

According to official figures, only 19 percent of women are employed in Pakistan, but in reality a much higher number must work to support their families. Ayaz says they work in almost all fields - as teachers, dairy farmers and more frequently as farmers for organic vegetables. Others run small carpet or furniture shops.

But many women prefer to work from home as they don't feel safe out in public (without wearing a burqa or hijab), where sexual harassment is quite commonplace despite laws making it illegal and punishable. Women also often receive threats from violent extremist criminals. She criticizes the fact that women working from home are often regarded as unemployed. Ayaz has thus drawn up a concept to change employment laws to boost gender equality.

Domestic violence

In the first half of 2011 alone, 179 women were killed - 14 cases of which were so-called honor killings. Meanwhile, 81 cases of domestic violence were officially reported, along with 28 kidnappings.

A new law which will help curb domestic violence is currently being debated in Pakistani parliament. Onlookers believe it has a good chance of being pushed through. The law will improve women's rights and also make forced marriage a punishable offence. It will mean that perpetrators are not only brought to justice quickly, but it will also provide funding for assault victims.

More flexible divorce laws have also been implemented. Fauzia Viqar of the Shirkat Gah Women's Resource Centre says it can be seen as a great step forward that women now have the right to seek divorce in Pakistan. Such laws provide women with the courage to come forth and exercise their rights.

"Such women are shaking the foundation of Pakistani society," says the women's rights activist. Honor killings, acid attacks, forced and early marriages are all anchored in tradition, as is the act of giving them away as brides or slaves to assuage conflict. "Women are still seen as being the property of their husbands," says Viqar, who believes that things have become even worse since the peace settlement with Islamists in 2009.

Girls' schools

The war between Islamists and the Pakistani army between 2008 and 2009 was dramatic, especially for the civilian population of Swat Valley, a former holiday destination in northern Pakistan. There, militants destroyed hotels along with the town's 300 girls' schools.

While the bombing took place mostly at night and in the early morning, so as not to endanger the lives of the school children, the message was clear, says Ayaz: "There are elements against girls and women going to school." The government, on the other hand "views the education of girls as important."

The government tries to influence the local population, which is mostly conservative, to understand how important education for girls is. The minister is proud that "most people these days want a good education for their daughters."

German help for women

The existence of women's shelters for the protection of women is guaranteed by Pakistani law. But there are still many obstacles to overcome. Women seeking refuge from domestic violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwar have only two shelters to turn to.

Sitara Ayaz has recently visited Berlin on an invitation from the GIZ, Germany's institute for international cooperation. With the help of German aid, she aims to create better conditions for women in her province. But it won't be easy, as women who go to shelters often find themselves cast out by their families and stigmatized by society. Setting up more shelters is one thing, but eradicating the stigmatization of the women and children who live there is another.

Author: Henriette Wrege / sb
Editor: Darren Mara