From Benevolent Patriarchy to Gender Transformation: A Case Study of Pakistan's "We Can End Violence against Women" Program

Ending violence against women and promoting gender equality have long been on the agenda of Pakistani women and human rights activists. In Pakistan and many other developing countries, initiatives that engage with men from a profeminist framework is a relatively new concept, and more or less in sync with the shifting trend of the international development field, which has moved away from a Women in Development (WID) approach to Gender and Development (GAD) (Lang 2003, 2; Flood 2004, 43–44). In summary, GAD focuses on institutional changes and the examination of gender roles and norms in relation to social divisions, as well as gender main-streaming in institutions, and a greater focus on men’s role in contributing toward gender equality.1 In this context, the focus on engaging with men and boys to end violence against women (VAW) is becoming more readily accepted by international donors and partner organizations.