Going national: Madadgaar’s helpline reaches out to victims of violence outside Sindh

We want to help women, children who are scared of coming forward says Zia Ahmed Awan.


Our Correspondent September 19, 2013
According to the president of the organisation, Zia Ahmed Awan, they want to approach silent voices through their network.

KARACHI: Women and children in Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar can now register their complaints against violence by dialing 1098 - the Madadgaar National Helpline.

The four-digit service, which started from Sindh in 2012, caters to complaints of abuse, including kidnappings, forced marriages, karo-kari, acid attacks and trafficking. Once reported to the helpline, either the organisation itself offers assistance or refers the case to their partners and relevant authorities.



According to the president of the organisation, Zia Ahmed Awan, they want to approach silent voices through their network. “We want to reach out to women and children who are scared of coming forward and report their stories of abuse. We want to build their lives, empower them and give them a respectable life,” he said. “It is a public-private partnership. The number is cost-effective, easy to remember and recognised in South Asian countries. We plan to eventually make the number free-of-cost.”

A ceremony, held on Wednesday in Karachi to mark Madadgaar National Helpline’s launch in the other provinces, was attended by lawyers, police officers and students. DIG South Abdul Khaliq Sheikh emphasised that the police rescue centres and the helpline should be linked to one another. “The 15 police rescue centres and Madadgaar National Helpline can work together as it will help mobilise police resources and be more effective,” he said. “With a responsible and accessible setup taking note of the complaints, the police can respond faster than they usually do to cases of violence.”

Looking after the weak

The minister for women development, social welfare and special education, Rubina Qaimkhani, believed that the subjects of human rights, women and children have been neglected in Pakistan.

“Though legislation on women rights is in the process, child rights are still being ignored,” she said, adding that when she moved a bill for Child Rights as an MNA in the last government, religious parties objected to it. “We have certain people who think it is ‘un-Islamic for a child to have more rights.”



Rubina, however, made it clear that she would not give up and will work towards forming a ministry of child rights, especially catering to street children and abuse victims.

Imran Shami of Plan International said that they wanted everyone in the country to be treated equally. “If people were given their due rights, then there wouldn’t be so many problems.”

Children can’t be protected until and unless they are given awareness at home and school, said a director of the Allama Iqbal Open University, Mukhtiar Talpur. “Protection also comes with education and children should also be educated at their homes for their rights.”

Appreciating the initiative by Madadgaar, Citizens-Police Liaison Committee Chief Jameel Yusuf said that the call centre can guide people on how to report cases which they initially feel hesitant in doing. “It can guide people on cases which are extremely sensitive and not spoken of, such as a sister reporting an incest case against her brother. The helpline will help spread awareness.”

A lifetime achievement award by the organisation was also presented to Abdul Sattar Edhi at the event and was accepted by his son, Faisal Edhi.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20th, 2013.

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