'Collective efforts needed to change mindset'
Social activists call for developing shelters, striking balance between donor agendas
Social activists call for developing shelters, striking balance between donor agendas. PHOTO: REUTERS
PESHAWAR:
Activists and civil welfare organisations should come together and work collectively instead of in silos to change the mindset around women and people who are transgender.
This was stated by speakers at a seminar in Peshawar on Tuesday on strengthening protections for women and people who are transgender in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The seminar had been organised by Dastak Charitable Trust.
Maryam Bibi, the chief executive of Khwendo Kor, stated that civil society activists need to channel their collective efforts towards the eradication of violence against women and people who are transgender, and focus on changing mindsets.
Talking about domestic violence, she said that it was not a private matter, rather it was an issue of public concern and must be recognised as such.
Speakers also lamented that a number of civil society organisations had become overly donor-driven and were prioritising donor agenda over their own objectives. It was recommended that there needs be an equal partnership between donors and implementing organisations and that organisations need to increase collaborative work to overcome resource deficits and increase the impact of their interventions.
Provincial Commission on the Status of Women secretary stated that the commission is working at multiple levels on protecting women. In this regard, the official said that they have started a pilot programme on violence against women in the province under which they will seek to identify and address gaps in the medico-legal system, police and judiciary, establish a media cell and a helpline for victims to report incidents. Moreover, they will set up 25 district committees on the status of women of which 23 have already been notified.
Dastak Executive Director Saba Shaikh stated that a strong protection system comprises effective laws, social policies, easy access to justice, effective criminal justice system, rights-based advocacy and protection services such as shelters and crisis centres.
Moreover, shelters can play an important role in safeguarding the rights of women and government level shelters must adopt human-rights friendly operating procedures to fully protect women in difficult circumstances and uphold their fundamental rights. Lawyer and founding members of Noor Education Trust Rakshanda Naz shared how it took her 10 years to set up a shelter in K-P, called Mera Ghar, and overcome the dissent and negativity from conservative sections of the society.
She said private shelters serve as model homes, demonstrating to the government that shelters can be run without undermining or restricting the liberty and dignity of its residents.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2017.
Activists and civil welfare organisations should come together and work collectively instead of in silos to change the mindset around women and people who are transgender.
This was stated by speakers at a seminar in Peshawar on Tuesday on strengthening protections for women and people who are transgender in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The seminar had been organised by Dastak Charitable Trust.
Maryam Bibi, the chief executive of Khwendo Kor, stated that civil society activists need to channel their collective efforts towards the eradication of violence against women and people who are transgender, and focus on changing mindsets.
Talking about domestic violence, she said that it was not a private matter, rather it was an issue of public concern and must be recognised as such.
Speakers also lamented that a number of civil society organisations had become overly donor-driven and were prioritising donor agenda over their own objectives. It was recommended that there needs be an equal partnership between donors and implementing organisations and that organisations need to increase collaborative work to overcome resource deficits and increase the impact of their interventions.
Provincial Commission on the Status of Women secretary stated that the commission is working at multiple levels on protecting women. In this regard, the official said that they have started a pilot programme on violence against women in the province under which they will seek to identify and address gaps in the medico-legal system, police and judiciary, establish a media cell and a helpline for victims to report incidents. Moreover, they will set up 25 district committees on the status of women of which 23 have already been notified.
Dastak Executive Director Saba Shaikh stated that a strong protection system comprises effective laws, social policies, easy access to justice, effective criminal justice system, rights-based advocacy and protection services such as shelters and crisis centres.
Moreover, shelters can play an important role in safeguarding the rights of women and government level shelters must adopt human-rights friendly operating procedures to fully protect women in difficult circumstances and uphold their fundamental rights. Lawyer and founding members of Noor Education Trust Rakshanda Naz shared how it took her 10 years to set up a shelter in K-P, called Mera Ghar, and overcome the dissent and negativity from conservative sections of the society.
She said private shelters serve as model homes, demonstrating to the government that shelters can be run without undermining or restricting the liberty and dignity of its residents.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2017.