At 4:35 am last Saturday, March 30, a bomb exploded in the head offices of W4’s field partner in Pakistan, SAWERA. Fortunately, none of SAWERA’s 15 team members was present, but the material damages are devastating, reaching costs of approximately €30,500. SAWERA’s management team confirms the organization lost 75% of its assets in the bomb attack, including its only vehicle, which was essential for serving hard-to-reach rural women.
SAWERA, which is also a field partner of Safe World For Women, strives to empower women in rural northwestern Pakistan through innovative projects to promote education and employment opportunities as well as women’s leadership and participation in decision-making processes.
Last weekend’s bomb attack, which occurred while SAWERA was running a program aimed at raising awareness of voter rights and electoral participation, particularly among women, is perhaps another indication of escalating violence in the run-up to the general elections scheduled for May 11.
Saturday’s bombing marks the second violent attack suffered by SAWERA in a timespan of less than 9 months. On 4 July 2012, Farida Afridi, Co-founder and Executive Director of SAWERA, was gunned down as she walked from her home to her work at the organization’s offices.
It is at a moment like this that the support of our international W4 community is most urgently needed. Now is the moment to reaffirm our determination to help empower women in Pakistan, to offer each girl and woman the opportunity to live a full life, free from fear and violence, free to make her own choices – for herself, her family, her community – her country.
© Women’s WorldWide Web 2013
