Hundreds of protesters have marched for transgender and children’s rights across Pakistan’s key cities, including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, and Multan.
On 8 March, the activists gathered up their people for International Women’s Day to promote gender equality, health against sex-based violence, and to reject discriminatory norms in the country.
The independent social Aurat March organized the gatherings and spoke out against the prejudice and injustice faced by both the trans community and women, who also face the death penalty for belonging to the LGBTQ+ community.
The protest this time highlighted the ongoing battle in Gaza, where over 25,000 women and children have lost their lives in Israel’s issue. Additionally, they fought for children’s rights to walk safely home and hold public areas without fear of harassment.
In Lahore, individuals, trans people, women factory workers, older women activists who have been at the vanguard of advancing women’s rights in Pakistan—which saw anti-murder laws being passed in 2021—all rallied together at the protest. Manifestos were distributed to the audience along with several performances that took place along the way.
Additionally, there were native art installations that were unveiled on the day, including a street abuse pipe with offensive words for LGBTQ+ people. Locals were advised by organizers to “ask any woman or khawja sira (trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people) what they feel when they are out, and each one will have a story.”
“Take a walk in our boots,” the assembly urges. “Leave the pipe with issues and pain. See where that leads you.
ہمارے قدموں میں چل کے تو دیکھ
A “street abuse tunnel” featuring examples of gender-specific victimization was displayed in Aurat March Lahore. Ask any person or khawajasira man their feelings when they leave, and each of us may have a story. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/X1npmFFyxa
— Aurat March Lahore (@AuratMarch) March 9, 2024
In advance of the protest, the organization held a female press conference this year. By preventing cisgender men from attending the event, they made sure the function would be a welcoming and safe area for women and those in the LGBTQ+ group to explore the march.
Reports suggested that cisgender male editors had harassed Aurat March in the past because they feared sharing the stage with their transgender and women counterparts.
Women and girls from Hindu and Christian areas have been victims of forced conversion for years, according to Michelle Chaudhry, chairman of the Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation, and Global Voices is grateful that the Aurat March has addressed this problem on such a large scale.
