Access to justice for women is one of the biggest issues facing women as they are unable to gain respite from any issues facing them. Due to their subordinate and dependent position in Pakistani society, women are faced with obstacles at every step of the way whenever they try to fight for their rights. The lack of education, their own poverty, their economic dependence on their male partners and/or family all lend to the difficulties they face in accessing their rights and freedoms. Apart from the discriminatory procedures and formalities, there are also social pressures and barriers. Discriminatory laws also play a huge part here by weighing down on women as tools of oppression, manipulation and blackmail, and also relaying to women that the judicial and legal bodies will work against them. It is important to identify such laws and work towards their repeal or amendment.

	Justice (retd) Majida Rizvi candidly speaks about the discriminations faced by women of all spheres and her own struggle as a women in a male dominated society Former High Court Judge and Chairperson of NCSW
	Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid reflects on his own experiences regarding human rights, Pakistan’s legal system and women facing problems for access to justice. Former Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court and Judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan.
	Peter Jacob talks about the issues, problems and discriminations faced by the minorities, their concerns and the problems they encounter for access to justice Has been working with National Commission of Justice and Peace.
	Advocate Danish Zuberi, discusses different issues concerning women and why discriminatory laws need to be amended for access to justice Prominent Karachi based lawyer.

VAW is one of the most complicated issues with regards to gender as it is a running theme through all other themes while having its own distinct issues as well. In order to gain an overall understanding of the issue, one needs to understand not only the prevalence of the issue, but also its manifestations, institutional response, legal frameworks & related impacts, women’s access to justice & right to protection etc and strategies and applicable practices by concerned organizations to deal with the issue. VAW was on of the main factors that initiated the women’s movement in Pakistan. Crimes against women have been regularly committed in the name of religion, custom and honor by state and non-state actors. It is necessary to have the State on board not only as a verbal commitment but an active one on implementing the protection and punishment of perpetrators it apparently vows to do.

	Farida Shaheed talks about her work in Shirkat Gah for women rights especially crimes against women and how advocacy can help to eliminate VAW Former Director Reasearch, Shirkat Gah and founding member of Women's Action Forum.

Hina Jillani reflects on her constant struggle for women movements, human rights and VAW, and her work for HRCP, AGHS and Dastak Human Rights Lawyer and Co-Founder of Pakistan's first all females law firm AGHS.

Naeem Mirza points out the different forms of VAW and emphasizes why men’s involvement in campaigns for VAW is vital and important Currently working as National Director Programmes, Aurat Foundation and is one of the first male senior women’s rights activist.

SSP.Khalique Sheikh discusses the atrocious honor killings issue and the strategies and ways to eliminate this heinous crime SSP based in Sindh and in-charge of a project working on elimination of honor killings in Sindh.

Poverty has been and continues to be one of the most important issues faced by Pakistan. According to the World Bank, the poverty rate in Pakistan in 2007 – 2008 had declined to 17.2%. According to the United Nations Human Development Report, Pakistan's human development indicators, especially those for women, fall significantly below those of countries with comparable levels of per-capita income. Due to their existing inferior position in society, being considered a burden, the communities and families are unwilling to invest in women. This results in women suffering and being discriminated against in every sector e.g. education, health, food, civil and political rights etc. Poverty is said to be one of the main contributing factors to issues relating to poor health, environment issues, violence etc.

	Khawar Mumtaz emphasizes how poverty affects women so strongly and endorses how rights based microfinance can be a viable solution to encounter poverty Human Rights Activist and author of several books.
	Shandana Khan talks about her work with NRSP and RSPN, how the whole program with grass roots level communities was conceived and how it works to tackle poverty Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Support Programs (RSP) Network.
	Shazreh Hussain argues about the negative aspects of micro-financing and inclusion of Islamic point of view in gender discourses, she also stresses to include gender in all aspects of development Independent Development Consultant

Article 10 of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) specifically provides that “women shall not be discriminated against and shall have equal opportunities in the field of education.” Despite this recognition, education for women continues to be a low priority and remains under-funded in most developing countries. Women and girls tend to receive fewer resources, less encouragement and little assistance in accessing their right to education. Despite great emphasis among the intelligentsia and policy makers on the education of women, progress towards equal opportunities for the education for women is still dismal. With the alarmingly low rate of literacy in Pakistan, especially among women, it is vital to discuss the issues as to reasons behind why women specifically are discriminated against, the causes and suggestions on how to improve the situation.

	Tauseef Hayat explains the difficulties women face to obtain education in Pakistan and how they can be greatly empowered through it. Education Specialist
	Sadiqa Salahuddin tells how education and human rights is inter-linked and also talks about IRC’s work in education sector especially for young women Executive Director, Indus Resource Center (IRC), Sindh

The last few decades in Pakistan have seen conflicts in neighboring counties and within the boundaries, large scale natural disasters including an earthquake and flood and an increasing rise in religious extremism related violence. Women suffer disproportionately during times of upheaval. They become the victims of war crimes, including rape and torture; they become the first ones to suffer economically with their movements being restricted, with the majority of women working in the informal sector, their employment decreases drastically; they lose their houses and have to seek refuge in camps and shelters where they are physically vulnerable; with the men of the households either fighting or possibly dead, the increase in women-headed households have left women vulnerable to exploitation without the skills or supporting environment to assist them; it times of desperation, women have been forced to trade sexual favors for food and other commodities; women are not included in negotiations nor in post-war reconstruction discussions and decisions. The 2000 and 2008 UN Resolutions for the first time identify women’s role in conflict – the first calling attention to the necessity of protection of women from gender-based violence and the other dealing with women peace and security. The current conflict issues that have occurred in Pakistan, especially in the northern regions of Swat, Buner and FATA regions, resulted in large amounts of internally displaced persons, the terrorism around the country has also been affecting women in a very specific manner. All of these issues need to be discussed in order to understand the women-specific harm they cause.

	Bushra Gohar enumerates about her struggle from an activist to reach National Assembly and stresses on issues and difficulties faced by women in conflict prone areas Member National Assembly (MNA) and Chairperson, Standing Committee on Women’s Development – Government of Pakistan.
	Farzana Bari discusses why men fear women’s empowerment and how women become most vulnerable in times of conflict and crises Human rights activist and head of department of gender studies at QAU

The recognition of the right to health as a human right is established in international human rights law. Within Pakistan, this fact is also slowly being realized. Along with this is the realization that women’s health issues are mostly ignored and the vast difference in the health status of men and compared to women. Also, women have health concerns that are specific to them such as reproductive health and mental and emotional health. These specific concerns are rarely recognized or medically treated. There is lack of awareness regarding women’s health requirements that are; low literacy ratio, low social status and social constrains on females. Lack of information or knowledge about family planning affects the health of both mother and child. The prevalence rate for clinical depression, anxiety disorders and psychosomatic (somatoform) disorders are therefore higher in women then men. It is therefore vital to have a clearer understanding not only of the discrimination against women generally in matters of health, but also to identify and understand women specific health issues and their prevention and treatments.

	Kausar S. Khan talks about the community health system and points out the flaws in the medical system especially for women Women Activist and faculty member of Agha Khan University, Karachi.
	Dr. Ambreen Ahmed discuss how women’s mental and emotional health can be so vital for the whole family’s health and why it should be highlighted on all forums A prominent psychiatrist and founding member of the organizations Bedari and Rozan
	Ayesha Khan discusses the different issues and problems concerning women’s health especially reproductive health and what measures need to be taken to provide good care for the mothers. Currently engaged as Senior Researcher with Collective for Social Science Research, her research interest include women’s issues with particular reference to Pakistan and Afghanistan, conflict, reproductive health, and paid work.

	Neelam Hussain reflects on the genesis of Women’s Movement in Pakistan. Executive Coordinator, Simorgh Women's Resource and Publication Centre.