Denmark has launched two new programs, amounting to a total of 20 million kroner, to improve women’s rights in Pakistan.
Mogens Jensen, the trade and development minister, said in a press release that action was sorely needed.
“In Pakistan there is a great need to focus more attention on girls’ and women’s rights,” he said.
“Among other things, child brides are a widespread phenomenon that Denmark, for our part, want to contribute to ending.”
Big impact intended
One of the programs will put 15 million kroner towards educating young people about their right to decide over their own body and will run over two years in co-operation with Oxfam Novib, the Dutch affiliate of the international humanitarian organisation.
Jensen emphasised that the program will have a big impact in terms of the numbers it has the potential to help. “With the new support, we can contribute to improving more than 150,000 young people’s knowledge about their rights and help them in the transition from child to adult, “ he said.
The other program will see 5 million kroner going towards improving women’s conditions in conflict situations in collaboration with UN Women in Pakistan.