STRATEGI AURAT MARCH DALAM MENDORONG PENGHAPUSAN KEKERASAN BERBASIS GENDER DI PAKISTAN

Gender-based violence in Pakistan has reached an alarming level. In 2020, the Aurat Foundation recorded the reporting of 2,297 cases of gender-based violence, which were dominated by violence against women, such as murder, kidnapping, sexual violence, domestic violence, violence using acid, harmful customary practices, and honour killings in Pakistan. The patriarchal culture has resulted in high levels of gender-based violence due to differences in mindset towards the concept of gender and low levels of law enforcement. In the struggle to fight gender-based violence in Pakistan, the Aurat March has become one of the prominent women's movements. The Aurat March is a women's movement in the form of annual socio-political demonstrations held in various cities in Pakistan by the women's collective group "Hum Auratein". Aurat March aims to express women's solidarity across Pakistan, calling for accountability, and the return of justice to women. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of Aurat March's advocacy strategy in encouraging the elimination of gender-based violence in Pakistan since 2018. The approach used is the strategy of four TAN political typologies (information politics, symbolic politics, leverage politics, and accountability politics) on the concept of the Transnational Advocacy Network (TAN). Data is taken from secondary sources such as books, scientific articles, government policies and reports, along with other relevant sources. It was found that the Aurat March became an inclusive platform for Pakistani women to show solidarity in the fight against patriarchy. This research also reveals that the various progressive backgrounds of the organisers and participants of the Aurat March are the sources of strength for the Aurat March in establishing powerful connections and gaining support from various parties in influencing Pakistan's policies. This article will further critically explain the extent of Aurat March's advocacy strategy in encouraging the elimination of gender-based violence in Pakistan.