Aurat March Lahore held its feminist press conference today announcing its twelve-point charter of demands. The March is scheduled to take place on International Women’s Day (March 8) from Lahore Press Club to outside Falettis Hotel, Egerton Road from 2 PM to 6 PM.
Aurat March encouraged media houses to send women and transgender reporters, journalists and media personnel to the press conference in order to highlight the need for gender-inclusive media. The speakers at the conference highlighted how Aurat March, feminist movements and women in politics have been misrepresented in the media.
The speakers called for gender-sensitive media coverage that focuses on the substantive demands of the March rather than misformation. The speakers reiterated the Lahore chapter’s theme for the year 2024: “Politics, Resistance, Liberation”, highlighting that the Election Commission of Pakistan has completely failed to conduct a free and fair election and lost the people's trust.
The March called for a truth and reconciliation commission to be set up with representation from people-led movements, marginalised communities and all political parties, to restore trust in the electoral process. The speakers expressed disappointment at the ECP’s failure to ensure compliance with the minimum requirement of 5% women’s nomination on general seats for all political parties.
The March advocated for meaningful representation, stating that having a woman as Chief Minister will make little difference in the lives of ordinary women in Punjab without systemic reforms. Talking to media Fatima said: "While we appreciate that Punjab has a woman as its Chief Minister for the first time, we are cautious that having a few women in power means little for the ordinary women in Punjab unless systemic measures are taken to tackle gender inequality in politics."
Aurat March volunteers said that it was important for them to express solidarity with the multiple injustices happening across the world, including the genocide in Gaza and the continued occupation of Kashmir as well as the injustices at home including enforced disappearances particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the interim government’s illegal decision to deport Afghan refugees.
Hibba, a vounteer said “"While we witness and grieve the injustices in Palestine, we also look within our borders and want to empathize the injustices close to home. That is our responsibility as feminists, to stand in solidarity with all oppressed groups, especially those that don't get media coverage." The speakers said that this year’s March will highlight these issues to create awareness among the general public through educational art pieces and performances.
