Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - Equal rights for women working in agriculture and the promotion of "sustainable" agriculture: is what Caritas Pakistan asks the government during the conference organized in Sargodha, Punjab, in recent days, which brought together over 200 women, especially farmers from all over the country.
In a note sent to Agenzia Fides, Amjad Gulzar, executive director of Caritas Pakistan, explains that the event wanted to emphasize the precious and irreplaceable role that women play in agriculture, both working in the fields, in the markets, and in farmer households. Caritas aims to provide "a common platform for women" who are engaged in the sector.
The conference approved and issued a statement of intent that says: "Women engaged in agriculture should be given all the rights and equal dignity as men, even in terms of salary. It is useful to create 'small working groups' for women; the rights of intellectual property must be guaranteed for the handicrafts made by women who become small entrepreneurs".
Noting the frequent practice of discrimination against women in Pakistan, the conference also raised the question of the inheritance of goods (of which they are excluded) and the need to "involve women in decision making at all levels". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 29/10/2014)
