During a March 2008 rally in the city of Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, over 400 women and men marched past the Supreme Court calling for the recognition of women’s land-inheritance rights. Their banners read: “When women are strong, society is strong.”

UUSC is working with its Pakistan program partner Bedari to mobilize communities to press for women’s inheritance rights and to discuss how women’s property ownership leads to greater protection for women and families. The social impact of Bedari’s groundbreaking work was visible in the march itself, where women took a public stance on a divisive issue in a society that discourages women from speaking out.

Around the world, owning property is closely linked to individual and family well-being. Owning property and controlling assets are key tools for gaining economic security and increasing income. For women, property ownership is especially empowering. Women who do not own property are far less likely to take economic risks and realize their full economic potential. Women with property have higher incomes, can use their assets as collateral for credit, and are less likely to be victims of domestic violence. And in times of crisis, women who own property and control assets are better able to cope.

Working in 30 earthquake-affected villages in Pakistan, UUSC and Bedari learned that many women wanted to inherit their share of land and assets – a right that is explicit in both national and sharia (Islamic) law. However, most women felt pressured not to demand their inheritance or believed their demands would be ignored. UUSC and Bedari also learned that many people – women and men alike – did not even know their rights.

Thus began a two-year effort among earthquake- affected communities to work with youth, women, and community leaders to understand and defend the rights of women in the rebuilding process. At the same time, volunteer lawyers provided free legal support to women who had been left out of official compensation packages or who had other legal cases related to property and asset claims.

At the mass rally, people raised their voices against the exclusion from government compensation that many people, especially women, faced because of a lack of official papers. Another popular banner in the march stated: “I don’t have documents, but I was a homeowner too.” During a press conference at the end of the day, these same issues were raised by speakers ranging from government officials to community leaders. The event was well covered in the press, and Bedari continues to receive many inquiries about their work and about women’s rights and human rights.

Says Saleem Malik, Bedari’s director, of the rally: “It was like a dream come true. But it wasn’t just a dream. It was something real that we have been working toward for a long time. I do not have words to express my gratitude to UUSC’s support of our efforts.”

Rebuilding after the earthquake in Pakistan continues to be a long and arduous task. But with a little support, women and their communities in Pakistan are working together to rebuild with justice.