Sabiha Baloch
The world marked International Women’s Day on March 8, under the theme of “For ALL Women and Girls: Accelerate Progress. Rights. Equality.” The global conversation focused on progress and equality.
In Pakistan’s Balochistan province, a large number of women, primarily mothers and children spent March 8 protesting on a major highway during a fasting day in the city of Mastung, 50 kilometers from provincial capital Quetta. Yet while the protest occurred on International Women’s Day, few of the women gave any special significance to the date. Instead, they were demanding the safe recovery of loved ones forcibly disappeared by security forces.
Balochistan, a region embroiled in conflict since the turn of the century, is no stranger to violence, much of it perpetrated by the state itself. Thousands of young Baloch men have been forcibly disappeared or killed, leaving their families in constant anguish. Against this backdrop Baloch women, despite hailing from a deeply conservative, tribal, and patriarchal society, have emerged as face of a vibrant and unique human rights struggle. Peaceful yet defiant protests, marches, and highway blockages have become a regular occurrence, as mothers, sisters, and daughters demand justice for their loved ones.
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