ISLAMABAD: Fauzia Viqar, a renowned advocate for women’s rights in Pakistan, received recognition at the inaugural CAREC Award for Advancing Gender Equality in Tbilisi, Georgia.
The ceremony marked a significant occasion, gathering exceptional individuals and organizations from ten member countries of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program.
Viqar’s tireless efforts in championing women’s rights and empowerment earned her a place among the distinguished recipients during the 22nd CAREC Ministerial Conference.
Her remarkable contributions were acknowledged alongside ten other honorees for their remarkable strides in advancing gender equality across various sectors.
During her tenure as the inaugural chairperson of the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) from 2014 to 2019, Viqar spearheaded initiatives such as a gender management information system, annual reports on gender parity, and the launch of a helpline for women to report incidents of abuse.
In March 2023, she assumed the role of Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment at Workplace, furthering her commitment to addressing workplace harassment issues.
The CAREC Awards not only celebrated Viqar’s exceptional achievements but also underscored the pressing need to persist in advocating for gender equality. The event emphasized the collective effort required to build a more inclusive, fair, and just society.
Among the notable recipients of the CAREC Gender Awards were organizations like Gender Hub Azerbaijan, the Women’s Information Center in Georgia, and Waipula Village in Yunnan, China, recognized for their impactful initiatives in promoting women’s rights and empowerment.
JSC Housing Construction Savings Bank (Otbasy Bank) in Kazakhstan received recognition for its successful Umai mortgage program benefiting women by providing access to affordable housing.
Similarly, the National Federation of Female Communities of Kyrgyzstan was acknowledged for its efforts in combating gender-based violence.
The awardees, carefully selected from a pool of over 200 candidates by a distinguished panel of jurors, have been declared as CAREC Gender Champions of 2023.
This acknowledgment grants them access to engage in various CAREC-organized gender events, fostering networking opportunities and facilitating the exchange of best practices among peers.
The CAREC Award for Advancing Gender Equality is a cornerstone initiative within the broader CAREC Program, launched in 2001, signifying a committed partnership among countries and development partners in Central and West Asia to promote regional cooperation for development.
