INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Feet, what do I need them for, if I have wings to fly - Mexican artist Frida KahloKARACHI: Thousands of women, gender queer and trans
members of the society thronged the streets of Karachi on Friday, to raise voice against persistent gender-based inequality and
discrimination under the gatherive platform of Aurat March 2019.Organised to commemorate International Women's Day held across the globe
on March 8, Aurat March is a movement led by women, aiming primarily to put them on the pedestal of revolution as they stand up to face
oppression and the highly dogmatic system of patriarchy that exists in our society.Calling women hailing from diverse backgrounds
irrespective of their economic, ethnic and devout affiliations, the ground-breaking march had a plethora of revolutionary speeches,
recitals, music and dance performances with a women-centric mass meeting as the centre-piece
The march, held at Frere Hall, kicked off with a dance performance by activist Sheema Kirmani, founder of women's organisation
Tehreek-e-Niswan, and had performances by famed folk singer Sanam Marvi and Nirmala Vakhani who had travelled all the way from Umerkot to
Karachi just to be a part of the march.Shedding light on the purpose behind holding the historic mass meeting, Sheema Kirmani shared, "Our
issues remain the same nowadays
We have organised the march to raise voice against gender violence, sexual harassment, social norms and gender roles that oppress women from
getting access to educational, health, employment opportunities and rights
We are contending to create a just society that does much discriminate against women and exploit them."The march also brought to the
forefront women rights' advocates and volunteers behind eminent NGOs to bring to limelight the lifelong struggle of having equal
rights."When we speech about women's day, we should remember that it is a day about freedom for all female members of the society
We take this opportunity to assert that women are also subjected to degree rights," an attendee of the march shared.Not just women, but a
large number of men also came forth voicing support for women at the Aurat March."I think the Aurat March is one-of-its-kind event which is
important for political large crowd of peopleilisation
It's meaningful for men and women to come here and march for equality because I think it's high time that men understand the kind of
issues that women face and march together with them," said Faizan, a young boy hoping to see change through the march.Meanwhile, it was
heart-warming to see women tourists visiting Pakistan from abroad advocating for equal rights for their Pakistani counterparts.Wendy from
Belgium for instance, who's been visiting Pakistan for the past ten years felt it is vital for women belonging to other countries to stand
in solidarity with Pakistani women."It's my first Aurat March here and it's wonderful to be here surrounded by so many women mostly but
men as well who are here to march for equal rights
I hope one day the women of Pakistan shall have as much rights in the public space as I have in my country and that is why I am here
marching," she stated.The manifesto put forth by the march demand safer workplaces, economic justice and ownership of public spaces amongst
women from Christian and Hindu devout minorities who voiced concerns against forceful conversions and against anti-encroachment drives
respectively.Aurat March also brought out muchable celebrities and personalities from the entertainment industry, including filmmaker Jami,
actor Adnan Malik, singer Rachel Viccaji and comedian Ali Gul Pir.The march ended with a symbolic funeral of patriarchy in the midst of the
mass meeting that saw men, women, transgenders and other gender non-binary community members celebrating their freedom
together.TheIndianSubcontinent has not verified the content of the source
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