“Improving the Well-being of Women Through Gender-Sensitive Consumer Protection Strategy”
Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) is implementing the subject project with financial assistance of Department for International Development (DFID) under Gender Equality Project (GEP), which is being managed by the British Council, Pakistan. The goal of the project is “to improve the well-being of women through their economic, legal and political empowerment in relation to market and governance processes”. Basically, it seeks to introduce ‘consumer protection as an approach to empowerment of women’.
The central milestone of this project is the Gender-Sensitive Consumer Protection Strategy, which is being prepared through participatory research within the legal and administrative framework of the Punjab. The general focus of this strategy rests on all kind of issues, which women face as consumers whereas the specific focus rests on reduction of safety risks and health hazards facing them due to their involvement in purchase, use and disposal of essential items.
The inputs for initial draft of this strategy have been collected through a baseline study in two union councils of Rawalpindi district, Lakkhan (rural) and Dhoke Hassu (urban). This study is based on results of a survey with 300 women, review of 18 relevant laws from gender perspective, and review of institutional framework for women empowerment and consumer protection.
So far, 401 community members (48 men; 353 women) have participated in the project activities
A draft strategy document has been prepared, which will be implemented on pilot-basis in the above mentioned union councils by two Women Lead Groups (already established). This would involve policy advocacy, sensitization of government departments, and engaging market actors. The pilot implementation would be facilitated by the project team of CRCP.
In view of the feedback of Women Lead Groups and inputs of CSOs, the strategy would be revised towards the end of the project. The final document would be shared with at least 100 CSOs and two capacity-building workshops would be held for mainstreaming it in their work.
The ownership of the strategy would be very broad including government, CSOs, and individual women. Use of this strategy in part or whole by these stakeholders would help reduce the health hazards, which women face as consumers of different goods and services. Moreover, this strategy would provide substance for developing programs and projects for empowerment of women by using consumer issues as agenda
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Comments on Draft Gender-Sensitive Consumer Protection Strategy >> | |
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Report on Consumer Protection and Gender Equality Empowering Women in Relation to Market and Governance Processes >> | |
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Project Manager Gender Equality Project Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) House 13, Street 1, G-6/3 Islamabad. |
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