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Event Report: Sister Bilquees, In-Charge Of ASF NCRU Participates In FPAP Training On Gender Based Violence,

Valerie Khan — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 13:11:53 +0000

GENDER BASED VIOLENCE SCREENING

JUNE- 29^TH AND 30TH

SANGAM HOTEL MUZAFFARABAD

EVENT REPORT

BACKGROUND RAHNUMA- FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION OF PAKISTAN:

Rahnuma started serving poor and marginalized people of Pakistan as the Family Planning Association of Pakistan (FPAP) way back in 1953, as one of the pioneers in providing family planning services and advocating for the small family norm. The government later embraced the cause by establishing the Ministry of Population Welfare in 196-. In about a decade, Rahnuma -FPAP had grown up from one-room operation at Karachi, Lahore and Dhaka to an infrastructure of district branches with model clinics and information centers extending the message to men and women. It expanded its work through community based infrastructure by establishing the family welfare centers in urban and rural areas. Now the organization has the biggest infrastructure by an NGO in Pakistan, which consists of the Family Welfare Centers, Family Health Hospitals, Focus Area Programs and a wide network of referrals from the private practitioners. Rahnuma – FPAP has also pioneered in the concepts of social marketing of contraceptives, family welfare centers and reproductive health services.

Rahnuma has been working on various innovative programs to increased access of people to quality and affordable health services, advocate for a right-based agenda, empowering the communities, especially the women and young girls, and strengthen the civil society in Pakistan. To meet these ends, the organization widened its scope to cover sexual and reproductive health of the whole family as an offshoot of organizational concern for the total well being of women, children, families and communities, after the 1994’s International Conference on Population and Development, in Cairo. Rahnuma is also working on its poverty alleviation program, as the health and wellbeing of people is directly linked with the socio-economic conditions.
As the organization has celebrated over fifty years of momentous achievements and encouraging history, its name did not reflect the scope of its work. So FPAP renamed itself to ‘Rahnuma’, which means a guide for development and prosperity. The change in name and logo was an outcome of a management review, in which a comprehensive analysis of management and human resource was done to enhance the organizational capacity for meeting its development agenda and serving the communities in a better way. Currently, Rahnuma is working on its strategic framework of 5 A’s that include: Adolescents and catering to their needs; combating HIV/AIDS; minimizing the risk of unsafe Abortions; increasing Access to services, particularly for the poor and the marginalized; and Advocacy for the Rights.

Vision:
Rahnuma – FPAP to lead a right based movement using the ICPD holistic development paradigm which strengthens family well being, enables empowerment of women, supports youth and protects children.

Mission:
Rahnuma – FPAP is committed to :-

Promoting Family Planning and Sexual & Reproductive Health as a basic human right.
Providing sustainable and quality sexual & reproductive health and family planning services to men, women and youth in partnership with government, NGOs and civil society.
Improving the quality of life of the poor and marginalized.

RATIONALE:

Holding of two-days training for Service Providers (LHVs/LHWs) at Muzaffarabad Azad Jammu and Kashmir for “Institutional Strengthening and Awareness Raising to Combat Extreme Forms of Gender Based Violence against Women (particular in Burn Cases)”

Project on Gender Based Violence was started in May 2009 in the Districts of Muzaffarabad, Bhimber, Bagh and Mirpur of AJ&K, Gujrat ,Gujranwala and Sialkot of Punjab while Mansehra and Abbottabad of N.W.F.P., with financial assistance of United Nation Office for Project Service(UNOPS).

The purpose to conduct the Gender Based Violence (GBV) Screening training is that the service providers are involved in the protocol development process because routine screening may require changes to patient flow or clinic procedures, and because providers are ideally positioned to judge whether the protocol will be feasible and efficient. In this regard, two-days training of Service Providers (LHVs/LHWs) was held at Muzaffarabad AJ&K.

OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTATION:

Identifying, strengthening and improving the implementation of the existing legislation with the help of LHVs/LHWS and other medical experts and to enable them to record the statement or the dying declaration of the burnt patient. In case the patient or the family cannot register a FIR. and give acid burn survivors access to comprehensive rehabilitation services, to guarantee & safeguard their basic human rights in line with the Constitution of Pakistan and International Conventions such as CEDAW, CRC.

EVENT DETAILS:

1. INTRODUCTION, BACKGROUND AND EVENT OBJECTIVES:

The DHO Muzaffarabad gave a welcome speech to all the participants in which he not only explaining the agenda of the screening meeting & the role of participants but also encouraged them to continue showing interest.

Dr. Anjum gave a detailed introduction and explained the tasks of everyone. Participants were assigned partners who they later introduced. He also distributed stationery and relevant accessories which signified strong social messages such as ‘’Zero tolerance against violence’’.

PRESENTATION

Ms. Asiya Parveen, National Project Manager, explained the purpose and the expectation that the host team had. She also briefed the participants about sec 174 (A) which informed them about the new law change stating that a Grade 17 Medical Officer can in the absence of a police officer, record the statement of the patient. She showed a case study regarding two victims and asked us what possible psychological effects the violence may have caused. She also explained that FPAP with the support of UNDP UNOPS DFID Gender Justice & Protection (GJP) Project title ‘Gender Based Violence’ is in the process of sensitizing medical staff to record the dying declaration of a burn patient under the existing legislation.

Dr. Asma Hasnat explained about the possible health outcomes of gender based violence and the emergency management of such reports.

Dr. Anjum and Dr. Asma conducted an activity in which ten participants were selected and given roles to present a scenario of violence and the problems attached to it. Rest of the participants were asked to identify the problems in relation to crimes related to Gender Based Violence and Domestic Violence.

They also displayed a Hope Tree on the Notice Board in which all participants had written down their hopes and expectations for the eradication of all forms of violence.

We also discussed the risks attached to helping survivors of gender based violence and how we can overcome these risks.

In the end there was a question-answer session taken by UNDP Representative, Mr. Zishan Ahmed and certificates were awarded to all participants.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Patients’ confidentially and privacy is of vital importance.
Sensitized about the new legislation and responsibility of medical officers.
Responsibility of service providers.

Acid Attack In Peshawar: After Balochistan, Acid Violence Spread In Khyberpukhtunkhwa.

Valerie Khan — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 07:22:51 +0000

This article sadly demonstrates that acid violence is unfortunately on the rise in Pakistan and that acid sale and distribution has to be monitored. It is the third time in Pakistan that a massive acid attack is reported and the need of a strict law and pusnishments for perpetrators is an URGE…

We seek your support in this regard.

ASF team.

A German Documentary About Acid Survivors Foundation, No border To show There Is Hope…

Valerie Khan — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:10:44 +0000

http://www.n-tv.de/mediathek/sendungen/auslandsreport/Stiftung-hilft-pakistanischen-Saeureopfern-article904419.html

Acid Survivors Foundation In The Field, A Realistic View…

Valerie Khan — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:14:02 +0000

Jean Loncle A French journalist, Valerie Khan Yusufzai and Rajprit ASTI communication officer in front of Nishtar hospital in Multan.

Many of you must be wondering what Acid Survivors Foundation is exactly doing when the team goes on the field; we are therefore presenting you a collection of pictures that will illustrate our activities away from the Nursing Care and Rehabilitation Unit. Kindly note that keeping in touch with the local government, the stakeholders and the community is essential to create a social disapproval regarding acid violence and generate social support for our action.

The same team talking to an acid retailer in Multan, Punjab.

ASF team often meets acid shops owners to sensitize them about their civic responsibilities and the need to monitor the acid distribution.

Ultimately, we would like to create some sort of watch committees that could ensure that an acid sale regulation and monitoring law would be implemented efficiently.

These expert volunteers are always there for taking up the cases that need to be proceeded in front of the court. They are also essential to guide us and link us with influential politicians or parliamentarians who would be ready to support a change in the current legal framework. Thanks to them, justice is not a dream but becomes a reality. last but not least. Meeting the communities means that the survivors are acknowledged for their efforts and that this link is the key to the establishment of groups of change agents that will voice out against acid violence, domestic violence and child abuse.

ASF team doscussing the issue of acid violence in a village, in a family in which 31 family members were attacked with acid.

ASF team and one of ASF pro bono lawyer : Mr Rasheed Rehman.

Acid Survivors Foundation : Naila, A Brave Acid Survivor.

Valerie Khan — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:38:12 +0000

An article in The News to celebrate Naila’s courage:

Acid attack victim seeks justice from SC

Thursday, November 12, 2009
Myra Imran

Islamabad

An acid attack in 2003 that completely disfigured 19-year-old Naila Farhat’s face has failed to take away her spirit to live as she bids to seek justice with the first hearing in the Supreme Court due to take place on November 13.

According to her, her teacher’s friend Irshad Hussain attacked her with acid on way back from school in 2003 when she was only 13. The family was punished for refusing the proposal from Irshad, a tailor by profession. Naila’s teacher and Irshad’s friend Muzhar Hussain grabbed her while Irshad sprayed acid on her to make her life permanently miserable. They might not have thought that the little girl would live and appeal to the Supreme Court against the decision of the High Court that recommended releasing the culprit if he pays the compensation money. “My family and I are determined to knock every possible door until we get justice,” said the lively Naila, who is from Layyah.

Naila will be the first acid attack survivor to take her case to the Supreme Court level. In majority of such cases, culprits manage to get away without being punished, as acid attacks are frequent in rural areas where legal system usually favours the mighty and the powerful.

Naila was a bright student and used to top in every class. She now cannot see with her left eye and the attack has also severely affected her other eye. “My mother wanted me to become a doctor,” she said adding that the support of her mother and father kept her going through out the chaotic six years. “I am lucky in the sense that my relatives and family friends gave all out support to me and encouraged me to approach the court despite pressure from the other party to withdraw my case,” said Naila while sitting behind a sewing machine.

Despite passing through immense physical and psychological sufferings, she has not stopped studying. She is a student of Allama Iqbal Open University and is also learning stitching and ‘paranda’ making from another acid burn survivor.

Legal Coordinator for Acid Survivors Foundation Sana Masood told ‘The News’ that Irshad was given 12-year imprisonment and 1.2 million fine by the sessions court. “But when the culprit appealed in the High Court, the court ordered his release if he agreed to pay the fine,” she added.

Highlighting issues related to Naila’s case, Sana said that presently there was no such law that could provide right justice to an acid attack survivor. “There is a provision of life imprisonment for perpetrators of such crimes in Domestic Violence Bill, but that has not been passed yet,” she pointed out.

Citing an example of Bangladesh, she said that Acid Crime Prevention Act was passed in Bangladesh in 2002 that stipulates the death sentence as a maximum penalty for an assault. “And to control the easy availability of commercially used acid, including Sulphuric acid, the Acid Control Act has been enacted in Bangladesh, which mandates licenses for sale and purchase of acids, with offenders facing a maximum of 15-year punishment as well as fines.” However no such Act has been passed in Pakistan.

“The issue of acid violence is addressed under the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2009, but it does not give death penalty to the perpetrator therefore what Naila can ask for is maximum penalty under the existing law as the court deems fit,” said Sana. Whatever be the punishment, no one can bring back the happy days of Naila’s life when she was just a bubbly student of class eight. All we can do is wish her good luck for her first hearing in the Supreme Court.

Message in a bottle

Valerie Khan — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:40:47 +0000

In these difficult times, ASF-Pak needs your financial and moral support! Also please forward this page to as many people as possible!

Thanks for your precious collaboration,

Best regards,
Valerie Khan