LEGAL EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN IN SOUTH PUNJAB: THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS (2001–2020)

Abstract

This paper explores action and projects undertaken by international development partners to operationalise the legal empowerment of women in South Punjab within a short of twenty years (2001-2020) on the one hand and on the other hand, it describes new issues and opportunities. Assessing the liberal feminist school of thought on intentions of bringing planned change through legal, institutional, and social interventions, the study places the historicity and theory behind the position of enhancing legal empowerment of women in South Punjab. To investigate how citizens envision empowerment and how they think the system is currently working against women in the ability to claim their legal rights, the study will use the tools of focus group discussions on participants involved in the program, and structured interviews of policymakers, planners, political leaders, and community representatives. The results have shown that although international development partners have made serious contributions to increasing the access that women have to legal aid, increased educational opportunities, improving economic prospects, socio-cultural norms of suppressing women, legal inequalities among genders, and political barriers are all seen to negate forward progress. The research gives a conclusion that the further empowerment and empowerment of women in legal and healthcare systems and stable assistance of development partners are the key to the enhancement of gender equality and the improvement of progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and 5 (Gender Equality) in South Punjab by 2030.