Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy launches new campaign for women and we laud her effort

‘Aagahi – Apnay Mustaqbil Ki’ aims to educate women about their rights in Pakistan

SOC Films – one of Pakistan’s premiere production houses, helmed by two-time Oscar-winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy – will soon be launching Aagahi – Apnay Mustaqbil Ki, to commemorate international Women’s Day, 2017. Aagahi literally means awareness and aims to educate women about their rights in Pakistan, stated a press release.
Over the course of the next twelve months, SOC Films will release a series of videos in Urdu and other regional languages explaining and clarifying the legislations which affect women; with an overview of how the legal provisions granted to them may be applied.



Through the series, several questions would be answered such as how to file an FIR, what does the law state on instances of rape, sexual harassment, divorce and inheritance and what is the procedure for reporting issues like these and who should be approached for help. Other topics include forced marriage, divorce rights, inheritance rights, domestic violence, sexual harassment and acid and cybercrimes.

“I have travelled the length and breadth of Pakistan and one thing that has always struck me is that we women know very little about the rights that we have in this country. We have little understanding of the court system and how to navigate it and aren't always aware of the ways we can protect ourselves,” said Sharmeen. “This is why SOC Films has collaborated with the Women’s Action Forum and undertaken the project Aagahi through a series of videos, which we aim to disseminate for free, across Pakistan. We hope to educate women about their rights and how they can assert them.”

In collaboration with Women’s Action Forum, each short-film has been conceptualised, produced and will cover the law, its interpretation and the safety that it provides to the victim. Leading actor Aamina Sheikh has lent her voice for the series.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.