Better service delivery: New forum to encourage citizens’ engagement

Members to be drawn from political parties, civil society organisations.

AAWAZ National Forum has been constituted by civil society activists to end violence against women and promote gender-based legislation, as well as peaceful resolution of conflicts and citizens’ engagement for effective service delivery.

The forum, a representative body of AAWAZ Voice and Accountability Programme, will strategise on key reform areas and provide technical input to achieve its aims, according to a press release.

Team leader for AAWAZ programme, Harris Khalique said the programme would focus on enhanced political participation of women without fear of gender-based violence, conflict resolution to address tribal, familial, sectarian, ethnic, faith-based or other kinds of conflicts, and citizens’ engagement for 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 amplify community voice to promote empowerment, effect social change, influence policy and encourage government reform.

At a meeting held recently, Riffat Butt, a legal expert, said Pakistan challenge of the effective implementation of these women-friendly laws.  However, there remain some other daunting issues which still require lobbying such as 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.

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.

AAWAZ Voice and Accountability Programme will strive 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 7,000 villages and urban settlements across 45 districts, 26 district of Punjab and 19 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.



The forum will comprise representatives of political parties, members of civil society organisations including six AWAZ programme’s partner organisations, representatives from media, academia, lawyers, institutions such as NADRA and the Election Commission, two members from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces where the AAWAZ programme is being implemented.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12^th, 2013.