The Relevance of UN Program for Women Empowerment in an Eastern Muslim Society

Abstract

Today, more than two decades down the road, the key areas of UN program for women empowerment are needed to be evaluated in the light of indigenous realities of eastern societies. This study examined the salient features of the said program vis a vis the general condition of status of women in an eastern and  Muslim society like Pakistan, especially in its local socio-economic context. This paper argues that there is a fundamental difference in the theoretical and ideological framework between the UN program and the facts in eastern societies for identification of the problems and suggested solutions related to the status of women. It looked into whether the program is able to deliver goods in eastern societies the way it has in the western societies or not. The objective of the study was to analyze the program with respect to its relevance with general belief system and practices in Eastern  societies. Secondly it demassified the monolithic notion of global issues regarding the status of women to see which parts are relevant in the local context in Pakistan.

Keywords: Women empowerment, feminism, UN agenda, women rights, status of women