‘Gender’ refers to roles and responsibilities of women and men that are created in our families, our societies and our cultures. (Source: ABC of Women Worker's Rights and Gender Equality, ILO, Geneva, 2000) In its broadest sense, ‘Empowerment’ is the freedom of choice and it means increasing one’s authority and control over the resources and decisions that affect one’s life.

People’s Learning Center works on this aspect with a perspective of gender equality and justice, as women and marginalized communities face the maximum consequences of negative socio-political and environmental processes, due to exclusion and violation of their human rights. However, they do have the strength and power to change this situation, thus confirming that women's empowerment and their full partnership on basis of equality in all spheres of society, including participation on the decision-making and access to power are fundamental for achievement of equality, development and peace

The major thrust of this program has been on ensuring gender equality, exercising gender rights, building collective strength, gender sensitization and mainstreaming it in all the initiatives. People’s Learning Center has also made a conscious effort to influence other formal and informal institutional structures and mechanisms that affect the lives of thousands of women and vulnerable communities.

People’s Learning Center has tried to build upon this aspect in the following ways:
1. Building women’s institutions to initiate a grassroots women’s movement.