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The Twelfth of FebruaryCanadian Aid for Gender Equality during the Rise of Violent Extremism in Pakistan |
eBook Available
Can foreign aid help support Pakistan’s efforts in the fight for women's rights and gender equality?
Pakistan has been a priority country for international development assistance since the early years of its creation. Though Pakistan celebrates National Women’s Day on 12 February each year to commemorate the 1983 women’s march, three decades of war in neighbouring Afghanistan have stoked violent extremism and constrained development gains and gender equality. Canada led the first global efforts to support women’s rights and gender equality in the region.
The Twelfth of February tells the story of the Canadian International Development Agency’s support for women’s organizations and civil society in Pakistan. Rhonda Gossen traces the ebbs and flows of financial aid, drawing on her own unique experience as a development worker as well as compelling interviews with activists, non-governmental organizations, officials, and diplomats. She assesses how women’s organizations work to resist violent extremism and makes the connection between gender inequality and security threats in a volatile region. Despite the influence of Islamic extremism, the gender equality movement in collaboration with civil society in Pakistan did make tangible headway.
The Twelfth of February addresses a problem that is all too timely: given violent extremism’s devastating impact on development gains including women’s rights, security , and the elimination of gender-based violence, what is the future role for international development?
The Twelfth of February tells the story of the Canadian International Development Agency’s support for women’s organizations and civil society in Pakistan. Rhonda Gossen traces the ebbs and flows of financial aid, drawing on her own unique experience as a development worker as well as compelling interviews with activists, non-governmental organizations, officials, and diplomats. She assesses how women’s organizations work to resist violent extremism and makes the connection between gender inequality and security threats in a volatile region. Despite the influence of Islamic extremism, the gender equality movement in collaboration with civil society in Pakistan did make tangible headway.
The Twelfth of February addresses a problem that is all too timely: given violent extremism’s devastating impact on development gains including women’s rights, security , and the elimination of gender-based violence, what is the future role for international development?
Details
Part of the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government Studies in Leadership, Public Policy, and Governance (number 17 in series)
276 Pages, 6 x 9
21 photos, 3 diagrams, 1 map
ISBN 9780228022527
September 2024
Formats: Paperback, eBook
“Rhonda Gossen’s account of CIDA’s groundbreaking work on gender equality in Pakistan reveals the unhappy fact that development is not always linear. Here, she tackles the fraught nexus between culture and gender, showing how the Hobson’s choice between security and development has long favoured the former.” Ambassador Robin Raphel, former US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia
“The Twelfth of February marries fine storytelling with scholarship, recounting decades of Canadian commitment to the aspirations of women and girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Gossen portrays the crushing impact that religious extremism, born of conflict and nurtured by poverty, has had on the battle for these human rights. Her respect for local activists whose struggles have spanned decades shines through.” Kathy Gannon, author of I is for Infidel: From Holy War to Holy Terror in Afghanistan
“The Twelfth of February provides a nuanced account of CIDA’s gender equality efforts in support of Pakistani organizations, against the backdrop of women’s rights struggles in the face of growing militancy. Gossen offers history as an inside story.” Rehana Hashmi, activist-in-residence, Carleton University
“Gossen’s book is so powerful and novel because it draws on her on-the-ground experiences as a Canadian aid official to substantiate the claim that aid programs focusing on women’s empowerment can help push back against violent extremism.” Michael Kugelman, director of the Wilson Center’s South Asia Institute
"Gossen’s excellent contribution to the development literature ... spotlights a growing body of research showing how gender inequality links to violent extremism and undermines stable societies." Janet Dunnett, Open Canada
“The Twelfth of February marries fine storytelling with scholarship, recounting decades of Canadian commitment to the aspirations of women and girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Gossen portrays the crushing impact that religious extremism, born of conflict and nurtured by poverty, has had on the battle for these human rights. Her respect for local activists whose struggles have spanned decades shines through.” Kathy Gannon, author of I is for Infidel: From Holy War to Holy Terror in Afghanistan
“The Twelfth of February provides a nuanced account of CIDA’s gender equality efforts in support of Pakistani organizations, against the backdrop of women’s rights struggles in the face of growing militancy. Gossen offers history as an inside story.” Rehana Hashmi, activist-in-residence, Carleton University
“Gossen’s book is so powerful and novel because it draws on her on-the-ground experiences as a Canadian aid official to substantiate the claim that aid programs focusing on women’s empowerment can help push back against violent extremism.” Michael Kugelman, director of the Wilson Center’s South Asia Institute
"Gossen’s excellent contribution to the development literature ... spotlights a growing body of research showing how gender inequality links to violent extremism and undermines stable societies." Janet Dunnett, Open Canada
Rhonda Gossen is a former Canadian diplomat and Canadian International Development Agency manager and consultant to the United Nations.
Figures ix
Acknowledgments xi
Prologue xv
Part One:
Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back
1 The Year of Qisas and Diyat 3
2 Exposing Vulnerabilities 15
3 Violent Extremism and Women’s Empowerment 25
4 From Women in Development to Feminist International Assistance 38
5 Field Visits under Armed Escort 50
6 Crimes in the Name of Honour 73
7 The Hudood Ordinances: A Lingering Backdrop to Legal Protections 86
Part Two:
Gender Equality in Dangerous Places
8 The Dark Years in Afghanistan 103
9 The Golden Years for Civil Society in Pakistan 113
10 The Forerunners: cida’s Women’s Funds 127
11 After 9/11 and “Operation Enduring Freedom” 140
12 Twilight Years: End of an Era for Canada in Pakistan 154
Part Three:
Entry Points and Shrinking Spaces
13 Being a Feminist in Difficult Places 171
14 Understanding Obscurities 185
15 Security, Gender Equality, and Development 199
Epilogue 209
Appendix: Chronology 211
Notes 219
References 231
Index 245
Acknowledgments xi
Prologue xv
Part One:
Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back
1 The Year of Qisas and Diyat 3
2 Exposing Vulnerabilities 15
3 Violent Extremism and Women’s Empowerment 25
4 From Women in Development to Feminist International Assistance 38
5 Field Visits under Armed Escort 50
6 Crimes in the Name of Honour 73
7 The Hudood Ordinances: A Lingering Backdrop to Legal Protections 86
Part Two:
Gender Equality in Dangerous Places
8 The Dark Years in Afghanistan 103
9 The Golden Years for Civil Society in Pakistan 113
10 The Forerunners: cida’s Women’s Funds 127
11 After 9/11 and “Operation Enduring Freedom” 140
12 Twilight Years: End of an Era for Canada in Pakistan 154
Part Three:
Entry Points and Shrinking Spaces
13 Being a Feminist in Difficult Places 171
14 Understanding Obscurities 185
15 Security, Gender Equality, and Development 199
Epilogue 209
Appendix: Chronology 211
Notes 219
References 231
Index 245
9780228017547
$140.00 CAD
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