Aurat Foundation organized and hosted the inaugural meeting of AAWAZ National Forum (ANF) on November 7, 2013, at its head office in Islamabad.   The Forum, a representative body of AAWAZ – Voice and Accountability Programme, envisioned as a national forum, will serve as a strategic platform to strategize on key reform areas and provide technical input for promoting women’s political participation, ending violence against women and gender-based legislation, as well as peaceful resolution of conflicts and citizens’ engagement for effective service delivery under main AAWAZ themes in consultation with similar provincial forums and different stakeholders. The forum would comprise representatives of political parties, members of civil society organizations including six AWAZ programme’s partner organizations, representatives from media, academia, lawyers, from relevant institutions like NADRA and ECP, two members from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces where the AAWAZ programme is being implemented.

 

Mr Harris Khalique, Team Leader AAWAZ programme, gave a brief note on objectives of the programme. He said that AAWAZ programme would focus on enhanced political participation of women in larger public life without fear of gender-based violence, conflict resolution to address tribal, familial, sectarian, ethnic, faith-based or other kinds of conflicts, and citizens’ engagement to achieve better public service delivery particularly in the areas of health and education.  Another overarching component of AAWAZ is policy, analysis, research and results (PARR) facility to synthesise information build robust evidence base around community voice and empowerment, social change, relevant policy influence and government reform

Mr Naeem Mirza, Chief Operating Officer, Aurat Foundation said that AAWAZ programme is flagship project in the broad area of gender, governance, democracy and civil society, and it was cconceived after taking stock of Pakistan’s political economy, sociology and issues around development and much larger corresponding support to public sector.  He further said that it is designed to nourish and nurture democratic processes from below by capitalising on existing citizens’ action.

Ms Feroza Zahra, briefed the ANF members about its Terms of Reference (TORs) and role. She said that the ANF will develop a strategic plan in consultation with concerned partners and stakeholders. Important TORs include: Regular periodic consultations for thematic areas particularly increased women’s participation in politics, advocacy and lobbying for AAWAZ thematic areas, facilitate legislation, policy making and procedural changes/ amendments for AAWAZ thematic inputs, follow ups on different initiatives, and provide capacity support by technical experts to understand and promote issues of women’s participation and safety in the political and public spaces.  The ANF’s structure include all five partners and management organization will be core body; all partners nominates one person from each organization including MO but three technical leads will be also part of this forum to facilitate in respective output thematic areas as and when required. Aurat Foundation will provide secretarial support to AAWAZ National Forum as thematic lead. 

Ms Riffat But, legal expert, spoke on the current issues of citizen’s rights and gender based legislation.  She said that Pakistan has recently made progressive achievement on gender-based legislation, and that has brought another challenge of the effective implementation of these women-friendly laws / legislation.  However, there remain some other daunting issues which still require a lot of work and lobbying e.g. domestic violence, trafficking, early marriages, economic empowerment of rural women etc.  Provincial assemblies must be provided technical support for introducing legislation on the issues of minority women. She suggested that the forum shall focus on the compliance of all the UN conventions reference to women’s rights which Pakistan has signed including CEDAW.

While discussing the major objectives of the forum, the members suggested that after evaluating the type and rate of violence against women, the forum shall raise the issue at relevant forums so that to effectively eradicate the violence against women and intolerance from the society.  Ms Farhana Qamar, MNA- PML (N) and Ms. Asiya Nasir, MNA (JUI-F) suggested that the forum shall involve the parliamentarians from the districts where the AAWAZ programme is being implemented.  

Instead of nominating the parliamentarian the consortium partners need to contact the mainstream parties and ask for nominating their representatives.  Ms Khawar Mumtaz, Chairperson NCSW, said that suggested the representation from all provinces in the ANF.

Role of provinces is very important and we need to add representatives from the provincial level also. On the issue of sustainability of the forum, the AAWAZ  partners responded that looking at their history and experiences of networking and advocacy they are sure to ensure the sustainability of the forum.   It was envisaged to also engage law ant d human rights commission representative in this forum.

AAWAZ – Voice and Accountability Programme, a five-year (2012 to 2017), is striving to strengthen stable, inclusive and tolerant democracy in Pakistan. The Programme views democracy through a gender lens, and intends to contribute to women’s political empowerment, resolution of conflicts across the communities that it works with, and better public service delivery in the areas of health and education through informed and active engagement of citizens. Between 2012 and 2017, AAWAZ will work in at least 7000 villages and urban settlements across 45 districts, 26 district of Punjab and 19 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.  The programme is managed by Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI) and implemented by Pakistan’s prime civil society organizations: Aurat Foundation (AF), South-Asia Partnership-Pakistan (SAP-PK), Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO), SUNGI Development Foundation (SDF) and Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).  districts in Pakistan’s two provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

 

Aurat Foundation organized and hosted the inaugural meeting of AAWAZ National Forum (ANF) on November 7, 2013, at its head office in Islamabad.   The Forum, a representative body of AAWAZ – Voice and Accountability Programme, envisioned as a national forum, will serve as a strategic platform to strategize on key reform areas and provide technical input for promoting women’s political participation, ending violence against women and gender-based legislation, as well as peaceful resolution of conflicts and citizens’ engagement for effective service delivery under main AAWAZ themes in consultation with similar provincial forums and different stakeholders. The forum would comprise representatives of political parties, members of civil society organizations including six AWAZ programme’s partner organizations, representatives from media, academia, lawyers, from relevant institutions like NADRA and ECP, two members from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces where the AAWAZ programme is being implemented.

 

Mr Harris Khalique, Team Leader AAWAZ programme, gave a brief note on objectives of the programme. He said that AAWAZ programme would focus on enhanced political participation of women in larger public life without fear of gender-based violence, conflict resolution to address tribal, familial, sectarian, ethnic, faith-based or other kinds of conflicts, and citizens’ engagement to achieve better public service delivery particularly in the areas of health and education.  Another overarching component of AAWAZ is policy, analysis, research and results (PARR) facility to synthesise information build robust evidence base around community voice and empowerment, social change, relevant policy influence and government reform

Mr Naeem Mirza, Chief Operating Officer, Aurat Foundation said that AAWAZ programme is flagship project in the broad area of gender, governance, democracy and civil society, and it was cconceived after taking stock of Pakistan’s political economy, sociology and issues around development and much larger corresponding support to public sector.  He further said that it is designed to nourish and nurture democratic processes from below by capitalising on existing citizens’ action.

Ms Feroza Zahra, briefed the ANF members about its Terms of Reference (TORs) and role. She said that the ANF will develop a strategic plan in consultation with concerned partners and stakeholders. Important TORs include: Regular periodic consultations for thematic areas particularly increased women’s participation in politics, advocacy and lobbying for AAWAZ thematic areas, facilitate legislation, policy making and procedural changes/ amendments for AAWAZ thematic inputs, follow ups on different initiatives, and provide capacity support by technical experts to understand and promote issues of women’s participation and safety in the political and public spaces.  The ANF’s structure include all five partners and management organization will be core body; all partners nominates one person from each organization including MO but three technical leads will be also part of this forum to facilitate in respective output thematic areas as and when required. Aurat Foundation will provide secretarial support to AAWAZ National Forum as thematic lead. 

Ms Riffat But, legal expert, spoke on the current issues of citizen’s rights and gender based legislation.  She said that Pakistan has recently made progressive achievement on gender-based legislation, and that has brought another challenge of the effective implementation of these women-friendly laws / legislation.  However, there remain some other daunting issues which still require a lot of work and lobbying e.g. domestic violence, trafficking, early marriages, economic empowerment of rural women etc.  Provincial assemblies must be provided technical support for introducing legislation on the issues of minority women. She suggested that the forum shall focus on the compliance of all the UN conventions reference to women’s rights which Pakistan has signed including CEDAW.

While discussing the major objectives of the forum, the members suggested that after evaluating the type and rate of violence against women, the forum shall raise the issue at relevant forums so that to effectively eradicate the violence against women and intolerance from the society.  Ms Farhana Qamar, MNA- PML (N) and Ms. Asiya Nasir, MNA (JUI-F) suggested that the forum shall involve the parliamentarians from the districts where the AAWAZ programme is being implemented.  

Instead of nominating the parliamentarian the consortium partners need to contact the mainstream parties and ask for nominating their representatives.  Ms Khawar Mumtaz, Chairperson NCSW, said that suggested the representation from all provinces in the ANF.

Role of provinces is very important and we need to add representatives from the provincial level also. On the issue of sustainability of the forum, the AAWAZ  partners responded that looking at their history and experiences of networking and advocacy they are sure to ensure the sustainability of the forum.   It was envisaged to also engage law ant d human rights commission representative in this forum.

AAWAZ – Voice and Accountability Programme, a five-year (2012 to 2017), is striving to strengthen stable, inclusive and tolerant democracy in Pakistan. The Programme views democracy through a gender lens, and intends to contribute to women’s political empowerment, resolution of conflicts across the communities that it works with, and better public service delivery in the areas of health and education through informed and active engagement of citizens. Between 2012 and 2017, AAWAZ will work in at least 7000 villages and urban settlements across 45 districts, 26 district of Punjab and 19 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.  The programme is managed by Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI) and implemented by Pakistan’s prime civil society organizations: Aurat Foundation (AF), South-Asia Partnership-Pakistan (SAP-PK), Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO), SUNGI Development Foundation (SDF) and Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).  districts in Pakistan’s two provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

 

Aurat Foundation organized and hosted the inaugural meeting of AAWAZ National Forum (ANF) on November 7, 2013, at its head office in Islamabad.   The Forum, a representative body of AAWAZ – Voice and Accountability Programme, envisioned as a national forum, will serve as a strategic platform to strategize on key reform areas and provide technical input for promoting women’s political participation, ending violence against women and gender-based legislation, as well as peaceful resolution of conflicts and citizens’ engagement for effective service delivery under main AAWAZ themes in consultation with similar provincial forums and different stakeholders. The forum would comprise representatives of political parties, members of civil society organizations including six AWAZ programme’s partner organizations, representatives from media, academia, lawyers, from relevant institutions like NADRA and ECP, two members from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces where the AAWAZ programme is being implemented.

 

Mr Harris Khalique, Team Leader AAWAZ programme, gave a brief note on objectives of the programme. He said that AAWAZ programme would focus on enhanced political participation of women in larger public life without fear of gender-based violence, conflict resolution to address tribal, familial, sectarian, ethnic, faith-based or other kinds of conflicts, and citizens’ engagement to achieve better public service delivery particularly in the areas of health and education.  Another overarching component of AAWAZ is policy, analysis, research and results (PARR) facility to synthesise information build robust evidence base around community voice and empowerment, social change, relevant policy influence and government reform

Mr Naeem Mirza, Chief Operating Officer, Aurat Foundation said that AAWAZ programme is flagship project in the broad area of gender, governance, democracy and civil society, and it was cconceived after taking stock of Pakistan’s political economy, sociology and issues around development and much larger corresponding support to public sector.  He further said that it is designed to nourish and nurture democratic processes from below by capitalising on existing citizens’ action.

Ms Feroza Zahra, briefed the ANF members about its Terms of Reference (TORs) and role. She said that the ANF will develop a strategic plan in consultation with concerned partners and stakeholders. Important TORs include: Regular periodic consultations for thematic areas particularly increased women’s participation in politics, advocacy and lobbying for AAWAZ thematic areas, facilitate legislation, policy making and procedural changes/ amendments for AAWAZ thematic inputs, follow ups on different initiatives, and provide capacity support by technical experts to understand and promote issues of women’s participation and safety in the political and public spaces.  The ANF’s structure include all five partners and management organization will be core body; all partners nominates one person from each organization including MO but three technical leads will be also part of this forum to facilitate in respective output thematic areas as and when required. Aurat Foundation will provide secretarial support to AAWAZ National Forum as thematic lead. 

Ms Riffat But, legal expert, spoke on the current issues of citizen’s rights and gender based legislation.  She said that Pakistan has recently made progressive achievement on gender-based legislation, and that has brought another challenge of the effective implementation of these women-friendly laws / legislation.  However, there remain some other daunting issues which still require a lot of work and lobbying e.g. domestic violence, trafficking, early marriages, economic empowerment of rural women etc.  Provincial assemblies must be provided technical support for introducing legislation on the issues of minority women. She suggested that the forum shall focus on the compliance of all the UN conventions reference to women’s rights which Pakistan has signed including CEDAW.

While discussing the major objectives of the forum, the members suggested that after evaluating the type and rate of violence against women, the forum shall raise the issue at relevant forums so that to effectively eradicate the violence against women and intolerance from the society.  Ms Farhana Qamar, MNA- PML (N) and Ms. Asiya Nasir, MNA (JUI-F) suggested that the forum shall involve the parliamentarians from the districts where the AAWAZ programme is being implemented.  

Instead of nominating the parliamentarian the consortium partners need to contact the mainstream parties and ask for nominating their representatives.  Ms Khawar Mumtaz, Chairperson NCSW, said that suggested the representation from all provinces in the ANF.

Role of provinces is very important and we need to add representatives from the provincial level also. On the issue of sustainability of the forum, the AAWAZ  partners responded that looking at their history and experiences of networking and advocacy they are sure to ensure the sustainability of the forum.   It was envisaged to also engage law ant d human rights commission representative in this forum.

AAWAZ – Voice and Accountability Programme, a five-year (2012 to 2017), is striving to strengthen stable, inclusive and tolerant democracy in Pakistan. The Programme views democracy through a gender lens, and intends to contribute to women’s political empowerment, resolution of conflicts across the communities that it works with, and better public service delivery in the areas of health and education through informed and active engagement of citizens. Between 2012 and 2017, AAWAZ will work in at least 7000 villages and urban settlements across 45 districts, 26 district of Punjab and 19 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.  The programme is managed by Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI) and implemented by Pakistan’s prime civil society organizations: Aurat Foundation (AF), South-Asia Partnership-Pakistan (SAP-PK), Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO), SUNGI Development Foundation (SDF) and Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).  districts in Pakistan’s two provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

 

Aurat Foundation organized and hosted the inaugural meeting of AAWAZ National Forum (ANF) on November 7, 2013, at its head office in Islamabad.   The Forum, a representative body of AAWAZ – Voice and Accountability Programme, envisioned as a national forum, will serve as a strategic platform to strategize on key reform areas and provide technical input for promoting women’s political participation, ending violence against women and gender-based legislation, as well as peaceful resolution of conflicts and citizens’ engagement for effective service delivery under main AAWAZ themes in consultation with similar provincial forums and different stakeholders. The forum would comprise representatives of political parties, members of civil society organizations including six AWAZ programme’s partner organizations, representatives from media, academia, lawyers, from relevant institutions like NADRA and ECP, two members from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces where the AAWAZ programme is being implemented.

 

Mr Harris Khalique, Team Leader AAWAZ programme, gave a brief note on objectives of the programme. He said that AAWAZ programme would focus on enhanced political participation of women in larger public life without fear of gender-based violence, conflict resolution to address tribal, familial, sectarian, ethnic, faith-based or other kinds of conflicts, and citizens’ engagement to achieve better public service delivery particularly in the areas of health and education.  Another overarching component of AAWAZ is policy, analysis, research and results (PARR) facility to synthesise information build robust evidence base around community voice and empowerment, social change, relevant policy influence and government reform

Mr Naeem Mirza, Chief Operating Officer, Aurat Foundation said that AAWAZ programme is flagship project in the broad area of gender, governance, democracy and civil society, and it was cconceived after taking stock of Pakistan’s political economy, sociology and issues around development and much larger corresponding support to public sector.  He further said that it is designed to nourish and nurture democratic processes from below by capitalising on existing citizens’ action.

Ms Feroza Zahra, briefed the ANF members about its Terms of Reference (TORs) and role. She said that the ANF will develop a strategic plan in consultation with concerned partners and stakeholders. Important TORs include: Regular periodic consultations for thematic areas particularly increased women’s participation in politics, advocacy and lobbying for AAWAZ thematic areas, facilitate legislation, policy making and procedural changes/ amendments for AAWAZ thematic inputs, follow ups on different initiatives, and provide capacity support by technical experts to understand and promote issues of women’s participation and safety in the political and public spaces.  The ANF’s structure include all five partners and management organization will be core body; all partners nominates one person from each organization including MO but three technical leads will be also part of this forum to facilitate in respective output thematic areas as and when required. Aurat Foundation will provide secretarial support to AAWAZ National Forum as thematic lead. 

Ms Riffat But, legal expert, spoke on the current issues of citizen’s rights and gender based legislation.  She said that Pakistan has recently made progressive achievement on gender-based legislation, and that has brought another challenge of the effective implementation of these women-friendly laws / legislation.  However, there remain some other daunting issues which still require a lot of work and lobbying e.g. domestic violence, trafficking, early marriages, economic empowerment of rural women etc.  Provincial assemblies must be provided technical support for introducing legislation on the issues of minority women. She suggested that the forum shall focus on the compliance of all the UN conventions reference to women’s rights which Pakistan has signed including CEDAW.

While discussing the major objectives of the forum, the members suggested that after evaluating the type and rate of violence against women, the forum shall raise the issue at relevant forums so that to effectively eradicate the violence against women and intolerance from the society.  Ms Farhana Qamar, MNA- PML (N) and Ms. Asiya Nasir, MNA (JUI-F) suggested that the forum shall involve the parliamentarians from the districts where the AAWAZ programme is being implemented.  

Instead of nominating the parliamentarian the consortium partners need to contact the mainstream parties and ask for nominating their representatives.  Ms Khawar Mumtaz, Chairperson NCSW, said that suggested the representation from all provinces in the ANF.

Role of provinces is very important and we need to add representatives from the provincial level also. On the issue of sustainability of the forum, the AAWAZ  partners responded that looking at their history and experiences of networking and advocacy they are sure to ensure the sustainability of the forum.   It was envisaged to also engage law ant d human rights commission representative in this forum.

AAWAZ – Voice and Accountability Programme, a five-year (2012 to 2017), is striving to strengthen stable, inclusive and tolerant democracy in Pakistan. The Programme views democracy through a gender lens, and intends to contribute to women’s political empowerment, resolution of conflicts across the communities that it works with, and better public service delivery in the areas of health and education through informed and active engagement of citizens. Between 2012 and 2017, AAWAZ will work in at least 7000 villages and urban settlements across 45 districts, 26 district of Punjab and 19 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.  The programme is managed by Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI) and implemented by Pakistan’s prime civil society organizations: Aurat Foundation (AF), South-Asia Partnership-Pakistan (SAP-PK), Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO), SUNGI Development Foundation (SDF) and Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).  districts in Pakistan’s two provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

 

Aurat Foundation’s Quetta office organized a press conference on October 10, 2013, and demanded the Government of Balochistan to include women in the Balochistan cabinet. 

The Government of Balochistan, after a long wait (almost three and half months)announced provincial cabinet consisting 19 ministers, but not a single women was included.  This was sort of shock for all women’s rights organizations and activists that no woman parliamentarian form Balochistan assembly was made minister.  Aurat Foundation, with the support of Pakistan Gender Coalition (DANESH, SEHER, BSDP, HDS, BEEDS, TWO ), former members of National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) including Ms Rukhsana Ahmad Ali, expressed their disappointment and demanded the government that at least, a woman parliamentarian must be appointed as minister and given the charge of Ministry of Women’s Development. 

Aurat Foundation organized a passing out ceremony of one of its  ‘Women Car-Van Leaders Project’, on October 8, 2013, at Islamabad Hotel.  Under this initiative of women’s economic empowerment, ten household women workers were given one year training on professional driving, basic education and Mixed Martial Arts Aurat Foundation.  Aurat Foundation has also planned to link these professional women drivers to the formal market of skill workers.

The Car Van Women Leaders group include Ms PerveenAkhtar, Ms AliyaBibi, Ms TasneemBibi, Ms Eid-un-Nisa, Ms FareedaBibi, Ms IbratShaheem, Ms KhalidaBibi, Ms Musarat Batool, Ms Nuzhat Sultana, and Ms Zahida Perveen.

Ms Nuzhat Sadiq, Senator PML-N, and Ms Tehseen Fawad, MPA, PML-N participated as chief guests.  Mr Naeem Mirza, Chief Operating Officer, Aurat Foundation, shared the main objectives behind the project.  He said that the project has succeeded in breaking the slave-like status of these women and made them productive members of society by brining them out of domestic labor.   He also said that as per its vision, Aurat Foundation believes that no nation and country can progress unless women become economically empowered.  Ms Shabina Ayaaz, Resident Director, Aurat Foundation’s Peshawar Officer, delivered welcome address.  Dr Rubina Ali, Country Head ICCO/KIA gave a detailed project overview. A documentary was also played for the participants which showed the previous profession of these ten women as household workers, and then getting basic education, driving and Martial Mixed Art classes under the project.

The Chief Guests distributed certificates of F.s Ninja Academy, Driving institute, and functional literacy among the ten women car-van leaders.  Ms Nuzhat Sadiq appreciated the women car-van drivers and said that she would share their success stories with the parliamentarians.

The Women’s Car-Van project is aimed at highlighting women’s strength, with a vision to break stereotypes in the conventional labor market and bring women in the mainstream markets as professional drivers. The project was initiated by Aurat Foundation’s Peshawar office  and implemented at its Islamabad office, with the financial support of ICCO. The program selected 10 domestic workers from Pakistan’s remote villages after surveys of around 200 or more domestic servants.  These ten women leaders were given three training – functional literacy, self-defense, and driving.

Gender Concerns International conducted the General Election Monitoring Mission (GEM) in partnership with Aurat Foundation, by sending women observers for monitoring the election on the Election Day, 120 women observers.  The observers observed 555 polling stations across the country. Mission issued its final report and this morning organized a multi- stakeholders’ consultation to discuss the findings and recommendations.

On October 3, 2013, both the organization launched the final detailed report during a multi-stakeholders dialogue on the current scenario of women as voters as leaders, and how to enhance it further.

Distinguished speakers at the occasion were Ms. Khawar Mumtaz, Chairperson National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), Raja Iftikhar, ADG (PR), Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP),  Mr Ijaz ul Haq (PML-J), Ms Taqdees Gilani, Chairperson Kashmir Cultural Academy AJK, and Prof Farkhanda Aurangzaib from Aurat Foundation.

Ms Nyghat Siddique, Head of Gender Concerns Operations in Pakistan, welcomed the participants and the speakers.   She highlighted the responsibility that the Pakistan Chapter has of taking this inclusive governance forward.

Ms Sabra Bano, Head of GEM Mission, Gender Election Monitoring (GEM) Mission Pakistan 2013, gave a detailed presentation on the election monitoring, the process, outcome and recommendations with the participants. In her concluding remarks, she addressed the issues of women of Kashmir by saying, “Why women of Kashmir valley are not given the right to representation in assembly through reserve seats; they must share the right to vote and contest the elections as like their neighbouring women of Pakistan”. 

Ms Khawar Mumtaz appreciated the recommendations by the mission and shared the work of NCSW during elections. While appreciating the work done by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), she demanded that next time the ECP shall provide the gender disaggregated data of each constituency which would strengthen the value of women’s vote. She also demanded that ECP shall declare the election null and void where women’s voters’ turnout was less than 10%. She said that NCSW would suggest the Election Commission of Pakistan that in the next election, it shall also give a gender disaggregated data of rejected votes which would help to identify that which section (men or women) need training on polling vote correctly.  She also demanded reserved seats for women in the Legislative Assembly of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Prof. Farkhanda Aurangzaib, Director Gender and Resource Mobilization, Aurat Foundation, in her remarks said that Aurat Foundation is working on women’s political empowerment through multi-pronged strategies including encouraging women to participate in election as voters as well as leaders i.e. enabling them to contest the elections as parliamentarians. She said that party manifestoes and ticket distribution shall be made more gender balances.  She shared that Aurat Foundation has recommended the political parties to allot women at least 15%  tickets for general election, apart from reserved seats.

Raja Iftikhar Additional DG (PR) from Election Commission of Pakistan speaking at the occasion ensured the participants of ECP’s commitment to the cause of Inclusive Electoral Processes. He mentioned that ECP has ensured Women polling staff for women polling stations. A dedicated Voter Education focused on giving awareness to women of Pakistan on importance of casting their vote.

Ms Myra Imran, one of the election observer, during an informal talk with the journalists, said that confidentiality and secrecy were missing due to lack of confidence as women would step in polling booths with friends.  “I also witness some women tearing their vote before they even casted it.  Lack of voters’ education was evident”, she further said.  She suggested that ECP must consider developing an electronic system for better data management.

Mr Fawad Chaudary, former PPPP parliamentarian, and Mr Shehzad Wasim, Head of the Royal News, also attended the consultation.  Local implementing partners also shared impressions, views and thoughts about women’s participation in the elections. The session was followed by stakeholder’s consultation including parliamentarians, senators, media representative and officials from Election Commission to seek their views with reference to inclusive governance and women’s leadership in future electoral process in the country.

Continuing their protest to express condemnation against the rape of a minor girl in Mughalpura, Lahore, and government’s failure to immediately arrest the culprits so far, the civil society representatives and human rights activists gathered at the F-6 Markaz in large number again on Thursday.

The rally organized by Aurat Foundation’s partner networks, including Pakistan Gender Coalition and Women’s Leader’s Groups, and led by rights activists like Mukhtaran Mai, Anis Haroon, Naeem Mirza, Tahira Aftab, Uzma Noorani and Shagufta Alizai. 

Protesters were holding the placards and chanted slogans against the failure of the government to control incidents that are blatant violation of human rights and expressed concern that the law enforcing agencies are trying to cover the incident. They pledged to continue the protest and raise their voices against this inhumanity, as well as to protest the blatant corruption, callousness, indifference and utter failure of the law enforcing agencies in identifying and arresting the perpetrators.

They demanded transparency in releasing the missing video clips of Ganga Ram hospital security cameras. The rally was led by rights activists demanding immediate arrest of culprits.

They said that rape and paedophilia are extremely heinous crimes, not just against an individual, but against society and the state, thus the survivor’s family must not be pressurized to accept any out-of-court settlement or compensation through the police or perpetrators’ influence. 

They called for urgent enactment of long-pending Children’s Protection laws, including maximum punishments of life-long imprisonment until death, without possibility of parole, remission or pardon for paedophilia, rape and gang-rape convicts at federal and provincial level.

They suggested that paedophilia perpetrators must compulsorily undergo psychiatric treatment in prison and that government must provide free, highest quality surgical, medical and post-trauma psychiatric treatment for the survivors’ rehabilitation and support for their immediate families too.

They urged the media, government, and politicians to respect the survivor and her family’s privacy and dignity, by not exploiting them in media-rating wars, or political point-scoring photo opportunities and said that print and electronic media must adhere to the gender-sensitive code of ethics they was voluntarily adopted in 2004 which stresses for no identification, naming or depiction of GBV survivors.

Aurat Foundation organized a meeting between Ms Asma Khader, human rights activist and Secretary General National Commission on Women (NCW), Jordan, and Ms Khawar Mumtaz, Chairperson National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), Pakistan, on September 18, 2013, at NCSW office, Islamabad.  Both discussed the situation of women in their countries and sharing of information and collective efforts on women’s rights.

Ms Khawar Mumtaz also invited Ms Asma Khader to join the Law Committee meeting which discussed various laws on women’s issues in both the countries.  The members of Law Committee included Ms Nasreen Azhar, member Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Justice (r) Majida Rizvi, Justice (r) Mehta Kailash Nath Kohli, member NCSW, Ms Tanveer Jahan member NCSW, Ms Kishwar Naheed, member NCSW, Ms Saira Afzal Tarar, member NCSW, and Minister of State National Health Services, Ms Uzma Noorani, member NCSW, and Ms Zubeda Khatoon, Chairperson, Provincial Commission on the Status of Women, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.   

Aurat Foundation, in collaboration with the Women’s Learning Partnership (WLP), organized a week long 2nd national Training of Trainers (ToT), from September 11-16, 2013, at Karachi.  The participants were selected from diverse fronts, both regionally and locally, including two participants from Afghanistan.  Most of the participants, having already attended the 1st training, were acquainted with the two training manuals i.e.  ‘Leading to Choices’ and ‘Leading to Action’.

The post-ToT sessions started with the welcome note by Dr Masuma Hasan, President, Board of Governors, Aurat Foundation. She focused on the partnership between WLP and Aurat Foundation. RabeeaHadi , national manager Aurat Foundation and Focal Person of WLP in Pakistan, introduced the Pakistan chapter of training of training (ToT), its methodology and objectives. Ms  Mahnaz Rahman, Resident Director, Aurat Foundation, Karachi office, delivered a welcome message to the participants.

Participants were enlightened by the presence of Ms Asma Khader , a Jordan based lawyer and human rights activist, President of ‘Sisterhood Is Global Institute Jordan – SIGI/J’ and Secretary General of the Jordanian National Commission for Women. She has been Minister of Culture & Government , spokesperson for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and President of the Jordanian Women’s Union; she is member of the Arab Lawyer’s Union, the Arab Organization for Human Rights, the Executive Committee of the International Commission of Jurists, and the Advisory Committee of the Women’s Division of Human Rights Watch.  Asma has written and spoken widely on the topics of women, children’s rights, and human rights. She recently served on the UN International Commission of Inquiry, investigating human rights violations in Libya.

There was an active representation of all four provinces as well as a multitude of various ethnic and language backgrounds. All participants are trainers in their field, some working at a grass-root level while others are working at a higher, institutional level.