Opinion | Freedom vs Restrictions

Women’s Rights and Everyday Realities in Kashmir and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir

The involvement and participation of women in society serve as a true measure of progress in any region. A sharp contrast is visible in Kashmir and POK. Where in Kashmir, women are increasingly enjoying autonomy in education, careers, entrepreneurship, and politics, women in POK face severe restrictions, domestic abuse, and systemic barriers that limit their public and professional engagement.

Women in Kashmir are enjoying freedom to live life on their own terms. They pursue higher education, choose diverse career paths, and participate actively in politics and cooperative sectors. Many travel freely within the country and internationally, reflecting a society that increasingly supports mobility and autonomy. Young women start businesses and startups, take leadership positions both professionally and entrepreneurially, and contribute in every sector, from healthcare and education to technology and public service.

These achievements are possible because the government spreads awareness, develops positive mindsets, and engenders opportunities for the empowerment of women. Schools and colleges function normally, businesses are open, and society does not raise an eyebrow over assertive women. Such development is concurrent with bigger national aspirations like “Viksit India 2047”, where inclusive growth and gender equality occupy center stage.

In contrast, women in POK face extremely restrictive conditions. The region is deeply patriarchal, with mobility and access to education strictly curtailed for women. Domestic violence and social pressures on early marriage and obedience continue to be endemic. Reports continue to emerge of increasing incidents of rape, abduction, honour-related crimes, and gender-based violence, which speak to deeper systemic failures and impunity of perpetrators. Voices are frequently suppressed, activism is not safe, and opportunities to engage publicly or professionally are sorely limited. In striking contrast to their Kashmiri counterparts, the women of POK experience significant disadvantages in asserting independence, pursuing a career, and engaging in active civil life.

Domestic violence is one of the most widespread forms of abuse in Pakistan and POK. On average, 85 women are subjected to some kind of violence every day, and this is mostly at the hands of their husbands or family members. Homes, which were once considered a heaven, now turn into dens of fear and oppression. The prevalence of such violence points directly to the entrenched impunity for perpetrators and the failure in societal and state machinery to afford protection to women.

At the same time, education plays an important role in the difference between these two regions. In Kashmir, schools and colleges are functioning regularly, and girls are being encouraged to pursue higher studies and professional training. In POK, access to quality education is limited. Moreover, due to social pressures, one finds less priority being accorded to higher education and professional development. This educational gap directly contributes to limiting women’s public participation and perpetuating cycles of dependency and marginalisation.

The difference between the two regions brings out the importance of government support, societal awareness, and implementation of policies. In Kashmir, an enabling environment encourages women to have big dreams, participate in decision-making processes, and make constructive contributions to society. In POK, lack of institutional support, poor implementation of laws, and societal curbs hamper women from even claiming their rights and shaping their futures. Such contrast brings into relief how enabling policies and social encouragement go in making women actively participate.

Despite such hurdles, women in POK continue to resist and struggle for autonomy at every available opportunity. Grassroots movements, small businesses, and other local actions led by courageous women are indicators of resistance to systemic oppression. However, these efforts cannot be fully realised without powerful support from the government, legal protection, and a shift in the attitude of society.

International frameworks, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Beijing Platform for Action, underline that women’s rights are human rights. These tenets must be fully implemented to ensure that women can exercise their choices in all aspects of life: educational, professional, political, and personal. It is only through consistent implementation, social awareness, and holding governments accountable that active participation by women throughout POK can reach levels observed in Kashmir.

The contrast between women in Kashmir and women in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) is an example of the influence that freedom, opportunity and social support have on women’s ability to participate actively. The women of Kashmir have demonstrated what is possible when women are empowered, protected and provided with a voice, while the POK represents the obstacles that systemic oppression and entrenched patriarchy create for women. To bridge this gap, policy reform, cultural change, and the enforcement of legal protections for women must be carried out so that all women can achieve their dreams and make contributions to society.

syediram368@gmail.com