The Women Lawyers Association (WLA) Karachi, held its inspiring annual luncheon on November 8, 2023, at a prominent venue in Karachi. The event brought together a diverse group of approximately 150-200 individuals, predominantly women from all branches of the legal sector, including esteemed guests Barrister Zahrah S. Vayani and Nida Usman Chaudhry, the founder of Women in Law Initiative Pakistan. Some supportive male allies also joined the gathering to demonstrate solidarity in advancing women's empowerment.
Representatives from various legal fields, including litigators, corporate lawyers, women from multinational corporations, and those working in the banking industry, graced the occasion. This inclusive gathering underscored the WLA's commitment to empowering women from all corners of the legal profession.
The luncheon lead by Barrister Zahrah D. Vayani served as a powerful platform to address critical issues impacting women lawyers in Pakistan. Engaging discussions centered on the Afghan refugee crisis, the genocide in Palestine, and the need for more representation of women at the Bench and the Bar.
Barrister Zahrah S. Vayani, a prominent figure in Pakistan's legal landscape, spoke about WLA and it's objectives. She emphasized the importance of women's active participation in elections and their pursuit of judicial roles. She underscored the need for more effective harassment committees, a safer court environment for women litigators, and a safer workplace for women in corporate law. Additionally, she encouraged all lawyers to actively engage in bar politics.
Nida Usman Chaudhry, the founder of Women in Law Initiative Pakistan, shed light on the stringent enrollment process and barriers in obtaining licenses of higher courts and it's implications on representation of women in justice sector. She also spoke about the need to reconnect with women's legal history and role that women lawyers have played and encouraged the women to pursue all legal fields to avoid confining themselves to the perception that only certain areas like family law are suitable for women.
Examples of women pursuing niche fields like climate change, digital rights, justice for prisoners on death row etc highlighting their capabilities were also spoken about by Nida and she also proposed amendments to promote gender justice.
She ended with a call to action to demand immediate ceasefire in Palestine, access to humanitarian aid for survivors, accountability of war crimes, Reparations and finally for reforms of United Nations and a gender audit of international humanitarian law. She also advocated for lawyers to be granted protected access to survivors on conflict hit zones like doctors have under Geneva conventions so they can support people with asylum, refuge or other means for accessing justice.
In line with the luncheon's agenda of empowering women in law, studies supporting the discussion topics, such as "Fair representation in the justice sector," a gap analysis study by Nida Usman and Anoshay Fazal were also distributed to attendees.
The luncheon concluded with buffet and a heartfelt appreciation by Barrister Zahrah S.Vayani for the male allies who joined and supported the event.