The fight for women’s rights: Pakistan, Japan, Great Britain

In Pakistan, women rarely become judges and pursue careers in that profession. They believe that the main obstacles are Pakistan’s patriarchal system and “male chauvinism.” Less than one in five Pakistani judges and court officials are women. Just seven women serve on the “higher courts” – the highest level of Pakistan’s judiciary – which employs 126 judges, including the Supreme Court and the Federal Sharia Court. Moreover, only 17% of lawyers and 15% of prosecutors are women. The situation in other South Asian countries, such as India and Nepal, is similar.

As part of the expansion, the Japanese army should recruit more women, but in 2023, the number of Japanese women willing to join the Japan Self-Defense Forces dropped by 12%. One reason is fear of harassment. A recent ministerial inquiry into harassment in the male-dominated world of the Japanese military uncovered more than 170 such incidents.

A study by the Pregnant Then Screwed group shows that in Great Britain, over 435,000 mothers were silenced under non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) or confidentiality clauses due to mistreatment at work. These women experienced discrimination, intimidation, or harassment there. Approximately 75% of mothers who signed an NDA say it has harmed their mental health. NDAs are legal agreements that prevent UK individuals from sharing information that companies or individuals wish to keep private.