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WOMEN’S ACTION FORUM PAKISTAN
The Women’s Action Forum (WAF) is a consciousness raising, lobbying and activist forum that has been in the forefront of the women’s movement in Pakistan. WAF is committed to a just and peaceful society based on democracy in the public and private spheres. It upholds and fights for a secular state pitting itself against the dominant narrative. WAF is opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether on the basis of sex, gender, class, religion, ethnicity or location. It takes the position that patriarchy and its structures: social, economic and discursive, are the root cause of the marginalization, subordination, exploitation and oppression of women.
Women’s Action Forum has been active at many levels for the last 42 years. Formed in 1981 against the retrogressive military dictator General Zia ul Haq, WAF was the most radical, active and dynamic movement in Pakistan and played a leadership role in challenging the military dictatorship and the ‘Islamization’ process from 1981 to 1988. This was a period of complete repression of all dissent and opposition to the regime. Women rights activists can stand tall since it was women who broke the political silence. On February 12th 1983 women in Lahore came out in a public demonstration against the military government and the State’s Islamization policies and boldly fought the violent attack the police. Beaten, tear gassed and with several arrested, the women strode forward and got to their destination. This was the first public challenge to the military government and in that WAF played a role in spearheading the movement for the restoration of democracy in the country.
While WAF is a women’s organization its position has been that every issue is a feminist issue and takes positions on national and global developments with a feminist lens. It allies itself with democratic, secular, progressive forces and social movements in the country as well as linking its struggle to that of other oppressions be they religious, sectarian, ethnic, linguistic, provincial or class. Its positions therefore range from the local to the national and global and its activism can range from position papers, analytical work, lobbying, consciousness raising (often using cultural forms to raise issues and to subvert dominant narratives) to political activism and street politics. It is not uncommon for WAF members to be arrested for challenging the state whether on ‘women’s issues’ or when it takes stands against militarization, challenges to the democratic process and all forms of injustice. Several members have been arrested and spent time in jail fighting for what WAF stands for.
Women’s Action Form is in many ways unique not only in Pakistan but elsewhere. It is autonomous, non-hierarchical, non-funded, not affiliated to any political party, not registered even as a non-government organization, and does not have a permanent address, an office or staff. Purely a voluntary organization its membership is open to all women who agree with its charter with each member having a say in policy making. WAF has six chapters across the country all of whom have regular meetings to decide on their own immediate concerns, activities and strategies within the parameters of the overall WAF policies and positions as decided in regular national conventions. Although active membership has changed to a large extent over the decades several founder members are still active and those who have been active in the past still consider themselves to be a part of WAF regardless of their present contributions or involvements. To that extent WAF has thousands of members since WAF gives an identity and a collectivity. In many ways is a state of mind and a political positioning.
This is WAF’s strength although its lack of form and parameters may be cumbersome when immediate decisions and actions are imperative. However since WAF is not registered and does not take funds or projects it has enormous flexibility and enables it to pursue issues over time since it is only accountable to its own members. While there have been moments of lull and while funded activities of other groups can sometimes subvert the impetus in WAF or the issues addressed by WAF, it remains the most vibrant, dynamic, radical and political feminist ‘organization in Pakistan.
