On March 8, as International Women’s Day was celebrated around the world, huge numbers of women and men across Pakistan participated in the second “Aurat March” with a common goal: to voice the rights of Pakistani women. With the first march held last year in Karachi, the movement has now extended to more cities including Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Larkana and Hyderabad with a more inclusive group of people coming together across class lines to reclaim public spaces and be heard.
Among other demands, the Aurat March manifesto centers primarily on economic justice, including labor rights, implementation of sexual harassment laws, the provision of maternity leave, reproductive justice, inclusion of women with disabilities and access to public spaces.
