Women's Action Forum

Women's Action Forum is a women's rights organization in Pakistan.

History

Women's Action Forum was established in Karachi in September, 1981 by a group of 15 women named Farida Sher, Samina Rehman, Najma Sadeque, Rukhsana Rashid, Ghazala Rahman Rafiq, Farida Shaheed, Fareeha Zafar, Aban Marker Kabraji, Zohra Yusuf, Nighat Said Khan, Humaira Rehman, Sultanat Bokhari, Khawar Mumtaz, Hilda Saeed, Lala Rukh, Nigar Ahmed and Nasreen Azhar, some of whom were associated with Lahore Grammar School, National College of Arts and NGOs like Simorgh, Society for Advancement of Education and Aurat Foundation. Other organisations which endorsed the charter of WAF included Democratic Women's Association, Tehrik-e-Niswan, Shirkat Gah, Pakistan Women Lawyers' Association, All Pakistan Women's Association and later on Sindhiani Tahreek.
The WAF was formed to respond to the implementation of the Hudood Ordinance penal code and to strengthen women's position in society generally. Women from civil society organizations in Karachi became the founding members of the WAF which has later been joined by chapters from Lahore and Islamabad soon within a period of one year. In Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Hyderabad, Peshawar and Quetta the group agreed on collective leadership and formulated policy statements and engaged in political action to safeguard women's legal position.

Famous Members

Nigar Ahmed started the Islamabad and Lahore chapters in 1982.
Amar Sindhu along with Arfana Mallah started chapter of Women's Action Forum in Hyderabad in 2008. Since then they are actively working with WAF. Afiya Shehrbano Zia, famous feminist researcher is an active member of WAF, from Karachi.