REPORT OF UNESCO EXPERT MEETING ON - APCEIU

esources and sustainable development are important to preserving this planet. In a country like Pakistan,
women have been working without realistic valuation of their work and work places. They are deprived of
many basic human rights, including the right to education. With a low level of literacy and awareness, such
women are unable to fulfill their roles effectively and contribute positively to sustainable development.
The Department of Women’s Studies (DWS) at the University of the Punjab established its master’s
degree to act as a catalyst for sustainable development by preparing properly educated men and women who:
know the complementarity of the genders, believe in the economic and social empowerment of women, and
can actively engage in sustainable development. The program, which focuses on women's roles inside and
outside the home, draws faculty and professionals from various multidisciplinary fields, as health sciences,
business administration, law, environmental programs, and small industries. DWS students work as interns in
nearly 30 different organizations. Graduates of the program are employed by governmental, nongovernmental,
and civil society organizations engaged in multifaceted tasks that lead to a more sustainable society. The DWS
program impacts not only the students, but also the professionals who come in contact with them.
University of the Punjab, Pakistan
Dr. Munawar Mirza (p. 20)
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