About

AWSO is a moving organization to materialize its vision in collaboration with other. During its past intervention it always remained gender sensitive in its policies and their implementation plans. AWSO knows that uniting together we could bring a sustainable change in the lives of those who deserve so. Therefore, in its all past interventions it offer its services collaboratively along with international community such as UN system, International organization. It has ability to make linkages with other for the welfare of its planned beneficiaries either in hope to get material assistance or technical assistance. The present initiative once again will be another effort to uplift the noble cause AWSO for the most deserved marginalized group of this part of the country.

About Area

Baltistan Division of Gilgit Baltistan has a firm significance and identification by its geo-political and geo-strategic position in the history of Pakistan. It is surrounded by two of the world’s largest mountain ranges of the Himalaya and the Karakorum. The mighty K-2, the second highest peak of the world along with 4 other top ranked mountains is situated in the Baltistan Division. Baltistan, unfortunately has no categorical history about it in a written-form. With the advent of Islam in 1300 BC and now the 100% population is Muslims, which is now about 364,057 souls. Baltistan ranked on the top for its praiseworthy archeological history. In the hundreds years old fortes of GB i.e. the Baltit Forte, Altit Forte and Shigar Forte, are witnessing the eye-catching features of Tibetan Art and culture. By the passage of time the Tibetan art was influenced by the Iranian and Kashmiri art and it can be easily seen in the construction made latter on. 

In Pakistan particularly in Gilgit-Baltistan women are affected by many factors. For the most part, their lives are governed by customs and traditions. In early ages, their fathers decide for them on all important matters, while after marriage, husbands and in-laws take over the reins and decide matters on their behalf. Most decisions pertaining to a woman’s life e.g. decisions regarding their education and profession, who they marry, in some cases even how many children a woman should have are taken by the male members of the family. Weiss (2003) argues that one of the reasons for women’s marginalised status in all spheres of Pakistani society is their exclusion from the decision-making process. It is inevitable that cases arise where women are trapped in marriages which are dysfunctional and where they may suffer violence and abuse. However, the practice of discouraging women from referring cases of infringement of their personal rights to courts is pervasive. Despite the fact that the Constitution of Pakistan states that all citizens are equal before the law and that there shall be no discrimination on the basis of sex, there exist widespread customary practices which violate these guarantees. These traditional structures are the chief obstacles to women’s equal status in Pakistan (Government of Pakistan 2005c).

A fundamental problem is the lack of awareness on the part of women of the rights granted to them under Pakistani law. Thus, a survey conducted by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (Government of Pakistan 2002) established that in a sample population of females from all sections of society, almost 90% of the women questioned did not realize that they had rights at all. It is because lack of education and awareness that women do not care about such things. Through formal and informal discussions faculty members came across and said that we know what our rights are ….In fact, it is the tragedy of our women that they are kept ignorant…..without education, how can they know their position? (Interview quote faculty).

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