Pakistan has a significant number of prominent Women Rights Organizations, each playing a very important role in gender equality, empowerment, and the protection of women’s rights.
Before discussing their details the following is a quick overview table of the top women’s rights NGOs that are currently working across Pakistan:
| NGO Name | Focus Areas | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| National Commission on the Status of Women | Gender equality, Women’s empowerment | Website: https://ncsw.gov.pk/ Phone: 051-9216117 / 051-9216116 Email: info.ncsw@gmail.com Address: State Life Building No 5, 1st Floor China Chowk Blue Area Islamabad |
| Punjab Commission on the Status of Women | Gender equality, Policy review, Women’s rights | Website: https://pcsw.punjab.gov.pk/ Phone: +92 04299268000-4 Address: 88 Shadman II, Lahore, Pakistan |
| Aurat Foundation | Gender equality, Advocacy, Awareness raising | Website: https://www.af.org.pk/ Phone: +92-051-2609596 Email: headoffice@af.org.pk Address: Plot No.5, Street No. 26, Said pur Market, C-III Shopping Centre, Sector G-7/1, Islamabad |
| Shirkatgah | Feminism, Advocacy, Social justice | Website: https://shirkatgah.org/ Phone: (+92-42) 35838815 Email: info@sgah.org.pk Address: 68 Tipu Block Garden Town, Lahore, Punjab |
| Kashf Foundation | Microfinance, Capacity building, Gender mainstreaming | Website: https://kashf.org/ Phone: +92-42-111-981-981 Email: info@kashf.org Address: 1 C Shahrah Nazaria-e-Pakistan, Lahore, Pakistan |
| Pakistan Women Lawyers’ Association | Legal aid, Women’s rights, Law reform | Website: http://www.pawla.sdnpk.org/ Address: Karachi, Pakistan |
| Bedari | Women’s rights, Violence prevention, Empowerment | Website: https://bedari.org.pk/ Phone: (0300-5251717) Email: bedari@bedari.org.pk Address: Islamabad, Pakistan-46000 |
| Acid Survivors Foundation Pakistan | Acid violence prevention, Survivor support | Website: https://asfpakistan.org/ Email: info@asfpakistan.org Address: Islamabad, Pakistan |
| ASHA | Speech and hearing disorders, Professional association | Website: https://www.asha.org/ Phone: 301-296-8580 Address: 2200 Research Blvd., Rockville, MD 20850 |
| Sarim Burney Welfare Trust International | Human rights, Legal aid, Humanitarian aid | Website: https://www.sarimburneytrust.org/ Phone: (+92) 301-822-2267 Email: contact@sarimburneytrust.org Address: Mezzanine Floor, Jumani Arcade, Main University Road, Block-14, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi – Pakistan |
| Democratic Women’s Association | Women’s rights, Political activism | Address: Karachi, Pakistan |
| Women’s Action Forum | Women’s rights, Activism, Advocacy | Website: http://www.wafkarachi.com/ Address: Sindh, Pakistan |
| Tehrik-e-Niswan | Women’s movement, Advocacy, Community engagement | Website: http://www.tehrik-e-niswan.org.pk/ Phone: 92-333-2155736 Email: tehrik@gmail.com Address: GF-3, Block 78, Sea View Apartments, DHA, Phase 5, Karachi |
| Aware Girls | Women’s rights, Education, Health | Website: https://www.awaregirls.org/ Address: Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan |
| Women in Struggle for Empowerment | Gender justice, Human rights, Economic empowerment | Website: https://wise.pk/ Phone: +92 42 3630 5645 Email: info@wise.pk Address: Basement, Sufi Mansion, 7 – Egerton Road, Lahore, Pakistan |
In the following guide, we will explore these organizations, by exploring their missions & programs, accomplishments, and the impact they have had on the lives of women in the country.
Let’s start our guide!
Recommended Reading: Top 3 NGOs For Women’s Rights In Pakistan| Women’s Rights In Pakistan
Women Rights Organizations In Pakistan | Top Organizations In Pakistan
Table Of Contents
- Women Rights Organizations In Pakistan | Top Organizations In Pakistan
- What are the Women’s Rights Organizations?
- National Commission on the Status of Women
- Punjab Commission on the Status of Women
- Aurat Foundation
- Shirkatgah
- Kashf Foundation
- Pakistan Women Lawyers’ Association
- Bedari
- Acid Survivors Foundation Pakistan
- ASHA
- Sarim Burney Welfare Trust International
- Democratic Women’s Association
- Women’s Action Forum
- Tehrik-e-Niswan
- Aware Girls
- WISE
- FAQs | Women’s Rights Organizations
What are the Women’s Rights Organizations?
Aims to foster gender equality, enabling individuals to live with dignity and self-respect. Recognized both nationally and internationally for its work in empowering civil society groups and networks.
List of 15 Women’s Rights Organizations
- National Commission on the Status of Women
- Punjab Commission on the Status of Women
- Aurat Foundation
- Shirkatgah
- Kashf Foundation
- Pakistan Women Lawyers’ Association
- Bedari
- Acid Survivors Foundation Pakistan
- ASHA
- Sarim Burney Welfare Trust International
- Democratic Women’s Association
- Women’s Action Forum
- Tehrik-e-Niswan
- Aware Girls
- WISE
Recommended Reading: List Of 30+ Women’s Rights Organizations In Pakistan (City-wise)
National Commission on the Status of Women
The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) was established through a presidential ordinance and the NCSW Act of 2012 as an autonomous statutory body.
Aligned with Pakistan’s national and international commitments, including the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action 1995, and the National Plan of Action (NPA) for Women 1998.
Functions and Powers of the Commission:
- Examining Federal Government policies, programs, and measures for gender equality and women’s empowerment.
- Reviewing all Federal laws, rules, and regulations affecting women’s status and rights, proposing necessary amendments.
- Sponsoring, steering, and encouraging research for national policy and strategic action for women’s empowerment.
- Developing and maintaining interaction and dialogue with NGOs, experts, and individuals.
- Mobilizing grants from domestic and international agencies for fulfilling obligations.
- Advocating, lobbying, building coalitions, and networking to advance women’s causes based on evidence.
- Liaising with Provincial Commissions and relevant provincial organizations.
Contact Details:
- Website: https://ncsw.gov.pk/
- Phone: 051-9216117 / 051-9216116
- Email: info.ncsw@gmail.com
- Address: State Life Building No 5, 1st Floor China Chowk Blue Area Islamabad.
Punjab Commission on the Status of Women
The Punjab Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) was established through the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women Act, 2014, as an oversight body ensuring that Punjab’s laws, policies, and programs promote women’s empowerment.
PCSW began operating in March 2014 with a mandate to review laws, rules, policies, and programs to promote gender equality and eliminate discrimination against women.
Functions:
- Examining Government policies, programs, and measures for promoting gender equality.
- Reviewing Punjab laws, rules, and regulations affecting women’s status and rights.
- Sponsoring, steering, and encouraging research on women and gender issues.
- Developing and maintaining interaction and dialogue with NGOs, experts, and individuals at national, regional, and international levels.
- Facilitating and monitoring the implementation of instruments and obligations affecting women and girls.
- Monitoring mechanisms and institutional procedures for redressing violations of women’s rights and individual grievances, including inspecting jails, sub-jails, Dar-ul-Amans, Women’s Centres, or other places where women and girls are kept.
Contact Details:
- Website: https://pcsw.punjab.gov.pk/
- Phone: +92 04299268000-4
- Address: 88 Shadman II, Lahore, Pakistan
Aurat Foundation
Established in 1986 under the Societies Registration Act 1860, Aurat Foundation (AF) is a national, non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting a just, democratic, and caring society in Pakistan.
Here are some key aspects of the Aurat Foundation:
- Aim to raise awareness and commitment to gender equality, advocating for a society where women and men are equal and can lead dignified lives.
- Headquartered in Islamabad, with regional offices in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, and Gilgit, along with 37 field offices.
- Maintains a countrywide network of voluntary citizens’ groups and activists in 128 districts, including Citizens Action Committees (CACs), Resource Groups, Aurat Foundation Resource Centres (AF-RCs), and Information Network Centres (INCs).
Contact Detail
- Website: https://www.af.org.pk/
- Phone: +92-051-2609596
- Email: headoffice@af.org.pk
- Address: Plot No.5, Street No. 26, Said pur Market, C-III Shopping Centre, Sector G-7/1, Islamabad
Shirkatgah
Established in 1975 as a small voluntary women’s collective, Shirkat Gah was Pakistan’s first self-declared feminist organization.
Shirkat Gah played a pivotal role in the women’s movement in Pakistan and in founding the Women’s Action Forum (WAF), a coalition that resisted the rollback and suppression of women’s rights during General Zia’s dictatorship.
Shirkat Gah currently operates in 23 districts across Pakistan, with offices in Lahore, Karachi, and Peshawar, collaborating with other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to advocate for gender equality and social justice.
Contact Details:
- Website: https://shirkatgah.org/
- Phone: (+92-42) 35838815
- Email: info@sgah.org.pk
- Address: 68 Tipu Block Garden Town, Lahore, Punjab
Kashf Foundation
Kashf is a registered Non-Banking Microfinance Company regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, established in 1996 as the first specialized microfinance institution in the country, initially following the Grameen model.
Kashf’s key areas of focus include Financial Services, Insurance and Safety Nets, Capacity Building Training, and Social Advocacy Interventions.
Managed by a capable Management Team and guided by a diverse Board of Directors, Kashf prioritizes transparency, fairness, and gender mainstreaming across its operations.
With a 50% gender ratio at all staff levels, Kashf serves as a model for best practices in gender diversity and leadership development.
Contact Details:
- Website: https://kashf.org/
- Phone: +92-42-111-981-981
- Email: info@kashf.org
- Address: 1 C Shahrah Nazaria-e-Pakistan, Lahore, Pakistan
Pakistan Women Lawyers’ Association
The Pakistan Women Lawyers’ Association (PAWLA) was established in 1980 by a group of women lawyers who recognized the lack of legal assistance available to destitute women and the discriminatory laws affecting women’s rights.
Here are some important aspects of PAWLA:
- Objectives: PAWLA’s goals include advocating for women’s rights as human rights, providing legal aid to women in need, and raising awareness among women and men about women’s rights.
- Activities: PAWLA offers legal aid to women in need, conducts seminars and workshops, and creates audio-visual materials to educate the public about women’s rights. It also works to challenge discriminatory laws. Its efforts are structured around three main projects: legal aid/jail project, legal awareness/radio project, and law reform.
- Publications: PAWLA produces brochures and educational materials, including drama stories, question-and-answer guides, and audio-visual content, such as a radio program primarily in Urdu.
Contact Details:
- Website: http://www.pawla.sdnpk.org/
- Address: Karachi, Pakistan.
Bedari
Bedari is a national-level, non-governmental, voluntary development organization in Pakistan, focusing on promoting and protecting the human rights of women and children.
Here are some important aspects of Bedari:
- Establishment: Bedari started its activities in 1991 and was formally registered in 1992 under the Societies Act 1860, with registration number RS/ICT/155.
- Focus Areas: The organization concentrates on gender empowerment, combating violence against women and children, and promoting attitudinal change.
- Achievements: Bedari is renowned for establishing Pakistan’s first crisis center for women survivors of violence, demonstrating its dedication to supporting victims of violence.
- Expertise: Over the past three decades, Bedari has developed considerable expertise in its focus areas, contributing significantly to the advancement of women’s and children’s rights in Pakistan.
Contact Details:
- Website: https://bedari.org.pk/
- Phone: (0300-5251717)
- Email: bedari@bedari.org.pk
- Address: Islamabad, Pakistan-46000
Recommended Reading: Top 3 NGOs For Women’s Rights In Pakistan| Women’s Rights In Pakistan
Acid Survivors Foundation Pakistan
The Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF) Pakistan was established in 2006 with the support of Acid Survivors Trust International, a UK-based organization, to aid survivors of acid attacks in Pakistan.
The organization was officially registered in August 2007 under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance 1961.
Key Feature:
- Mission: ASF Pakistan is dedicated to eradicating acid violence in Pakistan and ensuring the protection and enforcement of survivors’ human rights.
- Mandate: ASF Pakistan strives to eliminate acid violence and gender-based violence through peaceful, democratic processes, focusing on empowering survivors, particularly women and children, to exercise their basic human rights.
- Goals: ASF Pakistan employs a holistic approach centered on four key components:
- Stop acid and burn violence and prevent further attacks.
- Ensure survivors receive the best available long-term medical treatment.
- Ensure survivors access justice and exercise their fundamental rights by Pakistani and international laws.
- Empower survivors to become proactive, democratic, empowered, and autonomous citizens.
- Vision: ASF Pakistan envisions a Pakistan free from acid and violence, where all individuals can fully exercise their basic human rights.
Contact Details:
- Website: https://asfpakistan.org/
- Email: info@asfpakistan.org
- Address: Islamabad, Pakistan
ASHA
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 228,000 members and affiliates, encompassing audiologists, speech-language pathologists, speech, language, and hearing scientists, audiology and speech-language pathology assistants, and students.
Vision: Making effective communication a human right, accessible, and achievable for all.
Mission: ASHA is a dynamic community of professionals committed to transforming lives. Through partnership and collaboration, ASHA advances science, promotes excellence in education and professional practice, sets standards, and advocates for accessible and quality care for all.
Contact Details:
- Website: https://www.asha.org/
- Phone: 301-296-8580
- Address: 2200 Research Blvd., Rockville, MD 20850
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Sarim Burney Welfare Trust International
Sarim Burney Welfare Trust International (SBWTI) was established by Sarim Burney, a social activist and entrepreneur, as a non-profit trust dedicated to advocating for the oppressed and less privileged.
Mission:
- Raise awareness about basic human rights among underprivileged individuals.
- Empower women by educating them about their basic human rights, amplifying their voices, and aiding them in sharing their stories.
- Promote legal awareness by offering free legal advice and assistance on humanitarian issues, both locally and globally.
- Advocate for oppressed women, children, and other marginalized groups to ensure their basic human rights are acknowledged and safeguarded.
- Provide humanitarian aid to families in need without political bias.
Contact Details:
- Website: https://www.sarimburneytrust.org/
- Phone: (+92) 301-822-2267
- Email: contact@sarimburneytrust.org
- Address: Mezzanine Floor, Jumani Arcade, Main University Road, Block-14, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi – Pakistan.
Democratic Women’s Association
The Democratic Women’s Association, established in 1950 and led by Tahira Mazhar Ali, was a pioneering political organization.
Led by Tahira Mazhar Ali, the organization sought to unite worker’s rights with women’s rights in Pakistan, making it the first leftist organization in the country to champion women’s rights.
Contact Details:
- Address: Karachi, Pakistan.
Women’s Action Forum
Women’s Action Forum (WAF) was founded in Karachi in September 1981 by 15 women activists.
Several of these activists were affiliated with institutions such as Lahore Grammar School, the National College of Arts, and NGOs like Simorgh, SAHE, and Aurat Foundation.
Contact Details:
- Website: www.wafkarachi.com//
- Address: Sindh, Pakistan
Tehrik-e-Niswan
Tehrik-e-Niswan, meaning “The Women’s Movement,” was established in 1979 by a group of women activists.
The movement’s inaugural All Women’s Conference occurred in Karachi in 1980, drawing women from diverse backgrounds, including working-class women from Lyari and Orangi and representatives from various Trade and Labour Unions.
Contact Details:
- Website: http://www.tehrik-e-niswan.org.pk/
- Phone: 92-333-2155736
- Email: tehrik@gmail.com
- Address: GF-3, Block 78, Sea View Apartments, DHA, Phase 5, Karachi.
Aware Girls
Established in 2002, Aware Girls is a non-governmental organization located in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
The organization’s primary focus is on combating violence and discrimination against women and young girls in Pakistan. Aware Girls advocates for women’s rights, education, and access to sexual and reproductive health resources.
Contact Details:
- Website: https://www.awaregirls.org/
- Address: Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
WISE
Women in Struggle for Empowerment (WISE) is a woman-led organization established in 2011 to promote gender justice and women’s rights.
WISE is registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 as a non-governmental organization committed to advocating for social, political, and economic rights for women, with a specific focus on gender, labor, governance, and human rights in Pakistan.
The mission of WISE is to drive societal change in favor of women through education, awareness, and building synergy among human rights groups, women, and their movements, with respectful and inclusive interventions.
Contact Details:
- Website: https://wise.pk/
- Phone: +92 42 3630 5645
- Email: info@wise.pk
- Address: Basement, Sufi Mansion, 7 – Egerton Road, Lahore, Pakistan
NGOs Working On Domestic Violence In Pakistan
| NGO Name | Services Offered | Helpline |
|---|---|---|
| Aurat Foundation | Legal aid, shelter services, awareness campaigns | Contact on website |
| Bedari | Crisis centers, counseling, legal aid, rehabilitation support | Contact on website |
| Rozan | Counseling, therapy, support groups for survivors | Contact on website |
| Shirkat Gah | Advocacy, awareness-raising, community engagement | (+92-42) 35838815 |
| ASR Resource Centre | Legal aid, representation in court, awareness workshops | Contact on website |
Women’s Rights Helpline in Pakistan
| Helpline Name | Services Provided | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| Madadgar National Helpline | Legal advice, counseling, support for victims | 1098 (24/7) |
| Bedari Helpline | Counseling, legal assistance, referrals | 0300-5251717 |
| Tehrik-e-Niswan Helpline | Support for women facing gender-based violence | Legal advice, counseling, and support for victims |
| Shirkat Gah Helpline | Advocacy, awareness-raising, community work | (+92-42) 35838815 |
Recommended Reading: List Of 30+ Women’s Rights Organizations In Pakistan (City-wise)
FAQs | Women’s Rights Organizations
What is the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW)?
The NCSW is an autonomous statutory body established in Pakistan through a presidential ordinance and the NCSW Act of 2012.
When was the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) established?
PCSW was established by the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women Act, 2014, to ensure that the Government of Punjab’s laws, policies, and programs promote women’s empowerment.
Can you provide information about the Aurat Foundation?
Aurat Foundation is a national, non-profit, non-governmental organization established in 1986 to promote a just, democratic, and caring society in Pakistan.
What is the focus of Shirkat Gah?
Shirkat Gah, established in 1975, focuses on promoting and protecting the rights of women and marginalized communities in Pakistan.
Who founded Kashf, and when was it established?
Kashf, the first specialized microfinance institution in Pakistan, was founded in 1996 by Roshaneh Zafar.
When was Tehrik-e-Niswan formed, and what was its objective?
Tehrik-e-Niswan, formed in 1979, aimed to raise awareness about the low status of women in society and address social, political, economic, and cultural discrimination against women.
What is the vision of Women in Struggle for Empowerment (WISE)?
WISE aims to create a gender-just and violence-free society where women and all individuals enjoy equity and equal rights.
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