The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) is proud to announce the launch of its groundbreaking four-month campaign, "Empower Her," aimed at promoting girls' participation in sports in Pakistan.
Supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, this initiative is set to take place from October 2023 to January 2024, featuring an array of activities including training camps, tournaments, mentoring sessions, panel discussions, and a final exhibition match in Islamabad.
‘Empower Her’ campaign is driven by a commitment to breaking down barriers, shattering stereotypes, and championing equality for girls and women in sports.
Rabiya Javeri Agha, Chairperson of the NCHR, emphasized that empowering women in sports goes beyond scoring goals on the field—it empowers society to strive for fairness and inclusivity.
The campaign is a comprehensive initiative designed to address the challenges hindering girls and women from engaging in sports, particularly football, in Pakistan. Despite progress in various sectors, girls and women in Pakistan continue to face numerous obstacles in accessing and participating in sports.
These challenges include limited sports infrastructure, inadequate funding, deeply ingrained societal stereotypes and gender biases, a shortage of training and developmental opportunities, and a lack of female representation at all levels of the sport.
The primary objective of the campaign is to rectify these disparities by creating a supportive and inclusive sports ecosystem that empowers women and girls to actively participate, compete, and excel in football. The project will initially focus on four cities in Pakistan: Karachi, Quetta, Chitral, and Islamabad.
To accomplish these goals, NCHR has partnered with local implementing organizations deeply rooted within the beneficiary communities, including the Karishma Ali Foundation in Chitral, Women United Football Academy in Quetta, and Karachi United Foundation in Karachi.
NCHR's initiative serves as a testament to the Commission's unwavering dedication to advancing women's active involvement in sports and nurturing an environment where women athletes are celebrated and cherished," affirmed Rabiya Agha adding that with 'Empower Her’ NCHR and its partners are committed to transforming the sports landscape in Pakistan, fostering a society where girls and women have equal opportunities to excel in sports, and where diversity and inclusivity are celebrated on and off the field.
