Advocacy Events

AwazCDS is running a campaign for the women Empowerment through its PARC Networks.

Main Theme of the Advocacy Campaign is “Respect us as a Human Being”

This campaign has been started from 8th of March , 2011 on the International Women day in all flood affected districts of Southern Punjab. Near about 24events will be celebrated on this day. Following will be the main slogans for this campaign:

1. (why the rights of women are limited to the books and discussions only) Aurat k haqooq sirf kitabon or biyaon tak hi mahdood kuon.

2. Women need equality and equity (kam tar ho na havi hon aurat k hakook masavi hon)

3. Humanity is incomplete without women (insanyat ki takmil aurat k bagir mukamal nahi)

4. Who talks about us… when will this silence be broken down”

5. Islam has given equal rights to the women for initiating any business and other occupations

In this activity AwazCDS PARC Networks will fully participate and near about 6000 community members will be the direct beneficiaries of these activities.

A National Launch of Research Study:

‘Denial of Women’s Right of Inheritance- Enhancing their Vulnerability to Domestic and Societal Violence’

Every social grouping in the world has specific traditional cultural practices and beliefs, some of which are beneficial to all members, while others are harmful to a specific group, such as women. One of the traditional practices is the denial from women’s right of inheritance. Female sexual control by men, and the economic and political subordination of women, perpetuate the inferior status of women and inhibit structural and attitudinal changes necessary to eliminate gender inequality. Awaz Foundation Pakistan; Centre for Development Services conducted this study under core objectives of a) Identification of people’s perception and practices about women’s right of inheritance, b) Identification of Lacunae in the procedural requirements of the inheritance law & c) Verification of Incidents of violence against women on the basis of practices regarding inheritance.

The report is exploring the links of women’s ownership of property and inheritance rights and their experience of domestic violence. The cross site analysis attempts to highlight the commonalties and differences in trends across the five most exposed to violence districts i.e. D G Khan, Vehari, Sahiwal, Rahim Yar Khan and Muzaffargarh , selected for the study in South Punjab with the help of an advisory group formed at the level of research design and also presents a conceptual framework of pathways by which women’s property ownership impacts their experience of domestic violence. . A total of 10 FGDs were held with 250 participants. FGDs provided a quantitative and qualitative insight on the subject matter which then further be verified through 05 in-depth interviews with the knowledge bearers in the respective targeted districts.

Research Launch in Islamabad

Awaz Foundation Pakistan, with support from Oxfam Novib, has been running its long term project titled ‘Integrated Community Development and Empowerment Programme (ICDEP). Policy research and advocacy is the salient component of the project and this research study was conducted under the same component in 2010.

As a first step of policy advocacy, during 2010, a massive cititizen’s and media engagement campaign was launched and run in 53 Tehsil of South Punjab. For this purpose, AwazCDS organized series of community awareness forums (having theatre performances) in all Tehsil and engaged more than 100000 community members.. During these forums, Awaz involved number of national Government and Non- Government Organizations including NCSW. The representative from NCSW Multan Ms Romana delivered a speech on the inaugural ceremony of the Study in Multan.

Now in 2011, AwazCDS intends to initiate next phase of its policy advocacy i.e. Laws and Policy Reforms Campaign (LPRC) on the same issue. As a first step, AwazCDS intends to organize policy level forum with 30 – 40 national level policy makers, representatives from NGOs, INGOs, media, relevant ministries and government departments on this alarming and sensitive issue. In the end of March this activity will be organized in Islamabad.

Programme-Citizen’s charter of demands “Vocies of Forgotten Flood Survivors”

A group of civil society organisations including Awaz CDS Pakistan, Sungi, CPCS, SPO, Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum, PILER, SAP-PK, Pattan, Shirkat Gah, Tehreek Bahalia Sailabzadgan, Madni Welfare Organization, SYCOP, Women Councillors' Network, PODA, and others have been working on developing a ‘Citizens Charter’, carrying set of recommendations and demands to address gaps and deficits in flood relief and rehabilitation measures extended by the state, relief agencies and civil society organizations for flood affectees. In addition, the Charter also emphasizes medium and long term measures for disaster mitigation and management, restoration of environment and settlement and livelihood reforms. The Charter has been prepared following extensive consultations with civil society organizations involved in flood relief and rehabilitation across Pakistan. A national level meeting was planned for the public presentation of the Citizens Charter in Islamabad on Tuesday, February 15, 2011. Flood affectees from across the country would be encouraged to participate at the meeting. AwazCDS Pakistan also participated and sent 6 persons from flood affected areas in this meeting. Another meeting was held on 2nd March with the flood affected communities. AwazCDS with the support of National Organizations finalized “ CITIZENS CHARTER For Sustainable Rehabilitation Of Flood Affectees”

AwazCDS commenced a study ‘Bread for survival’ to have a comprehensive overview of livelihood patterns and gender issues attribute to it among PATA communities of Southern Punjab. Recent flood had adversely affected those communities. In order to share the climate change and livelihood of women of Provincially Administered Tribal Area (D G Khan)’ AwazCDS is conducting an activity in Islamabad on 15th March, 2011. Those who are interested are welcome to participate in this event