Empowering Women for Sustainable Peace: A Global Perspective on Women’s Role in Peacebuilding and Social Change in Pakistan
Women’s empowerment is increasingly recognized as central to good governance, social cohesion, and sustainable peace. In Pakistan, however, entrenched patriarchal norms restrict women’s participation in education, the economy, politics, and formal conflict-resolution processes. This study examines women’s empowerment as both a rights-based imperative and a strategic pathway to sustainable peace, focusing on women’s evolving roles as negotiators, mediators, and community peacebuilders in conflict-prone regions such as Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Grounded in Feminist and Social Change theories, the research employs a mixed-methods design, including surveys(n=200), interviews(n=30), and case studies. Findings reveal systemic exclusion shaped by socio-cultural constraints, economic dependence, and limited political influence despite increased representation. While women remain underrepresented in formal peace negotiations, they play critical roles in grassroots peacebuilding. The study argues that meaningful inclusion of women is essential for legitimate and lasting peace and recommends gender-responsive legal reforms, economic inclusion, and institutional support for women-led peace initiatives.
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Women’s Empowerment, Peacebuilding in Pakistan, Women, Peace and Security (Wps), Feminist & Social Change Theory, Political Participation and Leadership, Economic Empowerment and Wage Gap, Gender-
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(1) Ayesha Rafiq
Gold Medalist, Peace and Conflict Studies, National Defence University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Cite this article
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APA : Rafiq, A. (2026). Empowering Women for Sustainable Peace: A Global Perspective on Women’s Role in Peacebuilding and Social Change in Pakistan. Global Sociological Review, XI(I), 41-61. https://doi.org/10.31703/gsr.2026(XI-I).05
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CHICAGO : Rafiq, Ayesha. 2026. "Empowering Women for Sustainable Peace: A Global Perspective on Women’s Role in Peacebuilding and Social Change in Pakistan." Global Sociological Review, XI (I): 41-61 doi: 10.31703/gsr.2026(XI-I).05
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HARVARD : RAFIQ, A. 2026. Empowering Women for Sustainable Peace: A Global Perspective on Women’s Role in Peacebuilding and Social Change in Pakistan. Global Sociological Review, XI, 41-61.
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MHRA : Rafiq, Ayesha. 2026. "Empowering Women for Sustainable Peace: A Global Perspective on Women’s Role in Peacebuilding and Social Change in Pakistan." Global Sociological Review, XI: 41-61
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MLA : Rafiq, Ayesha. "Empowering Women for Sustainable Peace: A Global Perspective on Women’s Role in Peacebuilding and Social Change in Pakistan." Global Sociological Review, XI.I (2026): 41-61 Print.
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OXFORD : Rafiq, Ayesha (2026), "Empowering Women for Sustainable Peace: A Global Perspective on Women’s Role in Peacebuilding and Social Change in Pakistan", Global Sociological Review, XI (I), 41-61
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TURABIAN : Rafiq, Ayesha. "Empowering Women for Sustainable Peace: A Global Perspective on Women’s Role in Peacebuilding and Social Change in Pakistan." Global Sociological Review XI, no. I (2026): 41-61. https://doi.org/10.31703/gsr.2026(XI-I).05
