Empowering Tribal Women: The Unheard Voices In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's ADR Committees

(MENAFN- Tribal News Network) In Pakistan, where women have to constantly fight for their rights, the plight of tribal women is even more dismal. Today, the Peshawar Press Club hosted the launch ceremony of a short film titled "She-the Peace Builder," which focuses on the empowerment of tribal women.

The film aims to highlight the significant role of women in establishing peace in the tribal districts and to introduce the concept of Alternative Dispute resolution (ADR) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. ADR committees have been formed to provide justice, but, unfortunately, women are not represented in these committees.

Journalist and filmmaker Zeenat Bibi addressed this issue, explaining that the criteria for becoming a member of the ADR committees do not include provisions for women's participation. These committees are typically composed of bureaucrats and retired judges, with no allocation for women representatives.

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Zeenat Bibi told TNN that women in tribal districts are often deprived of their property rights (khula) and face other issues like domestic violence, Surah, Ghag, and child custody. These affected women should have a platform to be heard. However, since women cannot participate in the tribal Jirga and are not included in the ADR committees, they are denied justice, effectively marginalizing half of the society.

She emphasized that the ADR committees, which include local leaders and religious figures, do not reserve seats for women. Due to the low literacy rate among women, the possibility of including them as lawyers, judges, or retired bureaucrats in these committees remains a distant dream.

Zeenat Bibi called on the government to allocate quotas for local women in these committees, similar to those reserved for other local leaders. This inclusion would ensure that women are represented in official Jirgas, promoting sustainable peace and addressing many issues that concern women.

The movie launch event saw participation from various departments, including media representatives. The event was hosted by filmmaker Zeenat Bibi, along with journalist and social worker Rahat Shinwari from the Khyber tribal district, and communication and outreach specialists Naveed Yousafzai and Salwa Javed from the law department.

Participants at the event praised the film for highlighting the critical issue of tribal women's representation. Sadaf, one of the attendees, remarked that without the right to represent themselves, how can women become active members of society? She stressed that if women were part of these committees, they would be able to voice their issues more easily and find encouragement to express their concerns and positions.

The film was produced following a one-year Women Peace Architect training program, in collaboration with Search for Common Ground and the Aurat Foundation. It underscores the vital role women play in establishing peace in tribal districts.

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