The All Pakistan Women's Association, or APWA, () as it is commonly known, is a voluntary, non-profit and non-political

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

i organisation whose fundamental aim is the promotion of moral, social and economic welfare of the women of Pakistan.Profile of All Pakistan Women Association (APWA) on charity-charities.org website
Retrieved 16 August 2017 APWA was founded in 1949 by Begum Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan, a famous activist for women's rights, who had said that the role of women is no less important than that of men. Initially APWA was formed to handle the refugee crisis in the newly independent Pakistan after the 1947 partition of

British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance in South Asia. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one form or another ...

.All Pakistan Women's Association role lauded
, Pakistan Observer (newspaper), Published 25 October 2016, Retrieved 16 August 2017

Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah (, ; 25 December 1918 – 10 September 2000) was a Pakistani writer and journalist. Begum Hamidullah was a pioneer of Pakistani literature and journalism in English, and also of feminism in Pakistan. She was Pakistan' ...

, Pakistan's first woman editor and publisher, was one of APWA's many prominent leaders and Zubeida Habib Rahimtoola was a dedicated member of the association. APWA has been a very active organisation since its founding, with branches in 56 districts across Pakistan, and even in rural and urban areas. It celebrates major events such as

International Women's Day International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on 8 March, commemorating women's fight for equality and liberation along with the women's rights movement. International Women's Day gives focus to issues such as gender equality, reproductive righ ...

, UN Day and UNICEF Day annually, and is a charity organisation which relies on donations to fund its work. APWA received the

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

Adult Literacy Prize in 1974 and later the ''Peace Messenger Certificate'' in 1987. After the secession of East Pakistan as Bangladesh in 1971, the organisation's branch in

Dacca Dhaka ( or ; , ), List of renamed places in Bangladesh, formerly known as Dacca, is the capital city, capital and list of cities and towns in Bangladesh, largest city of Bangladesh. It is one of the list of largest cities, largest and list o ...

was renamed as

Bangladesh Mahila Samiti Bangladesh Mahila Samiti (Bengali language, Bengali: বাংলাদেশ মহিলা সমিতি) is a women's organization in Bangladesh descended from the All Pakistan Women's Association that was originally established by Ra'ana Li ...

. In 2016, at the 68th anniversary of APWA's founding, an annual dinner at the

High Commission of Pakistan, London The High Commissioner (Commonwealth), High Commission of Pakistan in London is the List of diplomatic missions of Pakistan, diplomatic mission of Pakistan in the United Kingdom. It is located at 35–36 Lowndes Square, Belgravia. The High Comm ...

was held to pay tribute to the APWA founder, Begum Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan. A speaker at the event said that Begum's vision motivated Pakistani women to contribute positively to Pakistani society.

Aims and objectives

The aims and objectives of the All Pakistan Women's Association are briefly stated as follows: # "The informed and intelligent participation of the women of Pakistan in the growth and development of their country. # The advancement of the welfare of Pakistani Women through the Improvement of their Legal, Political, Social, and Economic status. # The promotion of educational and cultural programmes and policies all over the country. # The Health and well-being of the people of Pakistan in the home and the community. # The promotion of international goodwill and the brotherhood of mankind."

Affiliations and Associations

APWA enjoys consultative status with the: # Government of Pakistan # ECOSOC i.e. the economic and social council The APWA also keeps close touch with U.N. and its specialized agencies at home and abroad. It is internationally affiliated with many organizations, such as: *

General Federation of Women's Clubs The General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), founded in 1890 during the Progressive Movement, is a federation of approximately 2,300 women's clubs in the United States which promote civic improvements through volunteer service. Community Serv ...

International Alliance of Women The International Alliance of Women (IAW; , AIF) is an international non-governmental organization that works to promote women's rights and gender equality. It was historically the main international organization that campaigned for women's suff ...

On a national level, APWA is associated with: * Ra'ana Craftman Colony * APWA

Cottage Industries The putting-out system is a means of subcontracting work, like a tailor. Historically, it was also known as the workshop system and the domestic system. In putting-out, work is contracted by a central agent to subcontractors who complete the p ...

* Gul-e-Ra'ana Community Center * Gul-e-Ra'ana Nusrat Industrial Home * Women's International Art Club *

(GFWC)

Programs

APWA offers programs in: * Mother and child health services *

Nutrition Nutrition is the biochemistry, biochemical and physiology, physiological process by which an organism uses food and water to support its life. The intake of these substances provides organisms with nutrients (divided into Macronutrient, macro- ...

Programmes at healthcare clinics *

Montessori The Montessori method of education is a type of educational method that involves children's natural interests and activities rather than formal teaching methods. A Montessori classroom places an emphasis on hands-on learning and developing ...

/Primary Education schools *

Adult education Adult education, distinct from child education, is a practice in which adults engage in systematic and sustained educating activities in order to gain new knowledge, skills, attitudes, or values. Merriam, Sharan B. & Brockett, Ralph G. ''The Pr ...

/Literacy * Social Education and

Social Work Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social wo ...

among the needy * Population and Family Planning Programs *

Legal Aid Legal aid is the provision of assistance to people who are unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system. Legal aid is regarded as central in providing access to justice by ensuring equality before the law, the right ...

clinics * Skill Training and Handicrafts Retail Shops * R H Education *

Adolescent Adolescence () is a transitional stage of human physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood (typically corresponding to the age of majority). Adolescence is usually associated w ...

s Programs * Pharmacies and Dispensaries Memberships are open to and provided to Pakistani women regardless of their caste, creed, or colour. Non-Pakistani women are also welcome and eligible for memberships.

Projects

APWA, before and after the partition of east and west Pakistan, covered the following fields: # ''Social Welfare'': this included numerous ventures in health volunteer training, educational programs, urban community developments, clinics, and hospitals. APWA also took the initiative in requesting a Ministry of Social Welfare and has been associated with many activities on national and international welfare agencies. # ''Education'': APWA runs hundreds of primary schools and mothers' clubs, secondary schools for girls in Karachi, and promotes literacy and the importance of education by constantly upgrading educational facilities. APWA created The Karachi College of Home Sciences and Home Science departments in universities located in Lahore and Dacca. # ''Rural Reconstructions:'' APWA works near the Government's Village Aid Programs and has developed Community Centers to promote general rural programs. # ''International Affairs:'' APWA is in charge of covering all international conferences, delegations, and arranging visits for foreign guests and visitors. # ''Rights and Responsibilities for Women:'' APWA is responsible for educating women about their rights and responsibilities by holding seminars, and meetings and seeking any necessary legislative or other actions. Other projects include the distribution of relief materials, cultural affairs, advice & legal assistance, publicity, and youth work.

Financing

APWA receives funds from: # Internal fund raising efforts # Membership fees # Government grants

Headquarters

APWA Headquarters are located in

Karachi Karachi is the capital city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, largest city in Pakistan and 12th List of largest cities, largest in the world, with a popul ...

. The governing body meets annually to make its principal policies. Branches are also located in

Lahore Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and ...

Peshawar Peshawar is the capital and List of cities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by population, largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is the sixth most populous city of Pakistan, with a district p ...

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

and

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...

References

External links

APWA Pakistan, official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:All Pakistan Women Association Fatima Jinnah Women's organisations based in Pakistan Liberal feminist organizations Organizations established in 1949 Organisations based in Karachi Charities based in Pakistan