NCSW held a consultation in Muzaffarabad AJK with provincial stakeholders on the preparation of National Report on “Need Analysis for Financing & Strengthening Institutions with Gender Perspective for Empowerment of Women and Girls”. This report will be presented by the commission in the 68th Session of UN-Commission on the Status of Women NY. Theme of the sixty-eighth session of CSW (11th to 22nd of March 2024) is “achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective. This consultation by NCSW in partnership with UNWOMEN, UNICEF, UNDP and UNFPA aimed at preparing recommendations for the report to be presented at the 68th session of UN Commission Status of women.

Ms. Nilofar BakhtiarChairperson NCSW in her welcome remarks said that these pre CSW consultations by NCSW and Consortium partners aim at analyzing existing collaboration among government, civil society, private sector, and international organizations.We look forward to creating inclusive and sustainable solutions for gender-related issues with a focus on economic empowerment and eradication of poverty as that is the core theme for CSW 68. She stressed that by adopting a comprehensive and integrated approach, societies can work towards reducing poverty and promoting gender equality simultaneously.

Ms. Rehana Khan Chair AJK Commission on the status of women welcomed participants from all fields of life. She said that AJK has many success stories of women entrepreneurs in public and private sector and they need to be recognized at state level. Ms. Nabila Malick on behalf of UNWOMEN shared that NCSW seeks recommendations from all regions over this year's theme : Poverty alleviation and financing for women as it will lead to the attainment of Gender equality.

The Guest of honor Ms. Midhat Shehzad, Additional Chief Secretary AJK said that women in AJK are progressively competing and playing their role in all disciplines that reflect an inclusive approach for women in all fields . She added that the AJK govt will keep striving to strengthen the state institutions for women empowerment in all fields. Chief Guest Ms Taqdees Gillani said, multiple legislations are being done in AJK with the support of NCSW and UN partners and we surely will look into the recommendations by this forum.

The participants agreed that promoting gender equality to address poverty requires a multifaceted approach that tackles the root causes and empowers both men and women. The set of recommendations included education and Skill Development with Equal employment opportunities for all , specially women and girls.