Aurat March 2021 took place in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad today and man we are living for the slogans! Each year, not just women but also men come up with creative slogans that go viral on social media. Reportedly, this year, the attendance of the participants was relatively low as compared to previous years due to the pandemic at hand. However, the organizers urged people to post their placards online if they can’t make up it to the march.
There were many groups of women present in Karachi’s Frere Hall of which we spoke to the Fisherfolk community and found out what their issues at hand were:
Even front line workers and doctors faced a great deal of difficulty as a result of the pandemic. In many cases, women were the first ones to lose their jobs expressed the women at the march
What were the demands of women this year?
Women in each major city of Pakistan are going through different sets of issues. The organizeers summed up the most prevelants ones and put it up on social media so masses are informed as to why they march, what’s their purpose, and what are the probelms.
Lahore
On twitter, Aurat march Lahore announced many demands which includs better healthcare budget, drug addiction a public health issue, consent based mandatory admission in school, safe abortion facilities, right to healthcare for transgender community, community and envoirnmental health, forced gender-reassignment medical procedures, equitable Covid-19 Vaccine rollout, acknowledge unpaid labour, end privatizing healthcare, rehabilitative programs for women, and access to contraceptives.
Karachi
15 point agenda was set for Karachi by Aurat March for this year! It is a condensed version of a complete charter of demands & focuses broadly on the theme of gender-based violence inflicted upon women, transgender & non-binary persons.
Have a look:
The demands are there to hope for and build a more equal, inclusive, and just world! pic.twitter.com/I6F3YYDm0I
— Aurat March – عورت مارچ (@AuratMarchKHI) March 7, 2021
Islamabad
Islamabad’s manifesto highlights a feminist vision for the crisis of care that has currently gripped Pakistan. It negates that a feminist struggle is a single-issue.
We have drawn inspiration from the work and labor of Marxist/socialist feminists, disability justice organisers, & progressive grassroots movements across Pakistan.
— Aurat Azadi March Islamabad (@AuratAzadiMarch) March 7, 2021
This current crisis warrants the dismantling of all capitalist and neoliberal structures that stretch us beyond our limits and energies to care.
— Aurat Azadi March Islamabad (@AuratAzadiMarch) March 7, 2021
We call for the need for feminist care & organising at this difficult time, & don't see any other solution to the malaise, apathy & care deficit that we currently see everywhere.
Aurat azad, samaj azad!
Our manifesto: https://t.co/uCzqDWqjR2#AuratAzadiMarch2021 pic.twitter.com/qTNQJjDTti
— Aurat Azadi March Islamabad (@AuratAzadiMarch) March 7, 2021
Here are some posters from the march today
The chills just ran down our spine
We live in a society where this happens very often and that's how Justice prevails 🙂 pic.twitter.com/3ohh8mivD0
— Daniman (@daniyalahmed24) March 8, 2021
Gender pay gap is a prevelant issue that persists in Pakistan
The gender pay gap is 34% in Pakistan, with women forced into the least paid jobs and hostile work environments. It's time to reward women's labour equitably #IAmMarching #AuratMarch2021 pic.twitter.com/No34oLvecl
— Maryam Muhammad (@maryam_m443) March 8, 2021
Patriachy is a pandemic in this part of the world!
Ain’t got no vaccine for this! #WomensDay @AuratMarch pic.twitter.com/sl6yQISUZe
— Noor Imran (@NoorImran_) March 8, 2021
Here’s to misogyny
#AuratMarchLahore is swaying to the sounds of feminism, love and behanchara!#IAmMarching#AuratMarch2021 #PatriarchykaPandemic#TumMazbootHo pic.twitter.com/yFERKaVVlv
— Mehreen Iftikhar Sheikh (@imonly1mehreen) March 8, 2021
Bilkul Sahi
Fav placard from the #AuratMarch2021! pic.twitter.com/VM52s3CpVj
— Ailia Zehra (@AiliaZehra) March 8, 2021
Truth Bombs 3..2..1
Beshak!! #AuratMarch2021 #AuratAzadiMarch2021 #IAmMarching https://t.co/sebz8HUI7f pic.twitter.com/lW3gZrcXcN
— sad mnoor (@percynatsu) March 8, 2021
Our favourite poster!
Just made my poster. I hope to keep playing a part in making cities feminist 🌹#WhyIMarch#IamMarching#AuratMarch2021 pic.twitter.com/TIBYrLuauw
— somewhere beech main (@jaameshirin) March 8, 2021
Why we march
#IAmMarching #InternationalWomensDay pic.twitter.com/AbDYFII8CF
— Rimmel Mohydin (@Rimmel_Mohydin) March 8, 2021
Education for all!
Sabeen, a young girl with disabilities sent this poster from a village of Shikarpur with a message to demand rights for persons disabilities esp education. She says as a girl she was not allowed to go to city to attend a school for special children by family#InclusiveEducation pic.twitter.com/eLRL3X8w1s
— Aurat March – عورت مارچ (@AuratMarchKHI) March 8, 2021
True that! This was something
the most haunting part of the #AuratMarch2021 pic.twitter.com/0ohYiJPLuP
— mhnr (@mhnrnsr) March 8, 2021
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