Helpline on women’s marriage rights launched

Organiser says service guarantees callers full confidentiality

LAHORE:

The National Commission on Human Rights Pakistan (NCHRP), in collaboration with Mussawi, an NGO, has launched a helpline 1413, first of its nature, for protection of women’s marriage rights as a pilot project.

The toll-free helpline’s scope has been extended to Punjab initially for nine months. If the experience turns out to be a success, it will be extended throughout Pakistan.

Helpline Officer Ayesha Ali told The Express Tribune that they promised information/guidance, counseling and free legal aid to the citizens, especially women, on their marriage rights.

Calls can be made from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. Ayesha Ali and her assistant would attend the calls.

She added that during the hours other than these, they had a DVR recording service that would ask the caller to either record their message which be responded to later on. It also had a pre-recorded message telling people about the basic laws as well as giving them references to other helplines, namely, the Women Helpline 1043 that is available 24/7 and other such helplines.

The idea of setting up a dedicated helpline for marriage rights was based on a study conducted by Musawi according to which over 60% of adult population was unaware of various columns in the Nikahnama (marriage certificate).

She said that the columns in the marriage certificate ensured marriage rights. However, when they were crossed out due to ignorance, they deprived the women of their rights. It was a popular perception that a woman could only dissolve her marriage through Khula or if her husband divorced her. A woman could apply for Khula based on few grounds.

Similarly, no column in the Nikahnama should be left blank. It should be filled properly.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2023.