Catholic Women’s Organization (CWO) was established by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Pakistan. Bishops took this initiative with very good intention to see Catholic women of Pakistan successful with leadership qualities refer to enhanced social standing derived from improved economic status. Many civil society organizations are working on issues affecting women’s human rights, but it is obser
ved that not much interest has been taken in addressing the issues faced by the women of minority communities. All the issues that are identified in different reports apply to women from both the majority and minority communities but women from minorities face double discrimination due to poverty and powerlessness. Christian women in Pakistan are among the poorest of the poor. There are many factors that contribute to the worsening plight of women in Pakistan including religious persecution, gender inequality, and poverty. In addition, women are often victims of Islamic laws such as Hudood and Law of Evidence. They further suffer from the misuse of laws and corruption of the judicial system. About Catholic Women’s Organization
A need was felt for a long time of a platform for the Catholic Women in Pakistan. Responding to this need the Pakistan Catholic Bishops Conference (PCBC) discussed and approved this initiative in 2006. The National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) was given the task to facilitate establishing the Catholic Women’s Organization. With the support of PCBC and the guidance of NCJP the Organization (Pakistan Catholic Women’s Organization (CWO)) started its activities in January 2007.
• Coordinators from all seven Catholic Dioceses of Pakistan were recruited and were given training in February 2007.
• Executive body members were nominated by each Diocese to form a National Executive body for PCWO. The first formal meeting of the PCWO Executive Committee was held in June 2007.
• PCWO was registered under the Societies Act 1860 in July 2007.
• PCWO opened the membership at the diocesan and parish level in October 2007. Aims and Objectives of CWO
• Conducting trainings and awareness programs regarding women rights.
• Encouraging women’s participation in all fields of life.
• Providing legal aid to the women victims of Human Rights Violations.
• Advocacy for non-discrimination and rights of working women.
• Initiating capacity building programs/ women’s development. The Challenges
Apart from the longstanding issues of discrimination by and in the state institutions and socio-economic marginalization, it seems that in the next few years the Catholic community together with civil society and minority communities will have to tackle some additional problems inside the community, which include:
• Indulgence of men and women in crimes due to their poor economic and social status
• The circumstances leading to the abuse of personal laws (marriage, inheritance, custody of children)
• Abduction, forced conversion and marriages of minority women
• Erosion of the family life
