Since 2008, PODA has spearheaded a campaign to amplify the voices of Pakistani rural women, addressing their priorities from a collective platform through its annual conference on the International Day of Rural Women. The 15th of October has been declared by the United Nations as the ‘International Day of Rural Women’ and PODA has been organizing its annual conference regularly since 2008. One of the most significant aims of this event is to facilitate the rural women of Pakistan in meeting their sisters from other provinces and regions in order to share their experiences, reflect on lessons learned and strategize collectively for local action in their respective areas.

Voices demanding an effective role for rural women in our patriarchal societal norms need to be strengthened and affirmed consistently. The women of the rural areas of Pakistan themselves need to be empowered and equipped with the confidence and the independence to stand up and claim their equal place in society. The conference campaign provides a vital platform that can change the role of rural women – from one of “vulnerability” to that of “effective change makers” – by building linkages and partnership models which are affirmative and concrete in deliverables and outcomes.