Achievements & Activities

Through a variety of public events and community programmes including seminars, rallies, sports events, orientation sessions, quiz programs, debates & essay writing contests, poster/painting competitions among youth, folk music shows, theatre performances on VAW, HK and discriminatory practices against women, the campaign is aiming to influence the perceptions and behavior of communities, families, traditional and local leadership, legislators, police, and the media. The campaign is being taken forward by an alliance consisting of a variety of stakeholders including NGOs, women’s groups, professional associations, community leaders and professionals. The ‘We Can’ campaign in Pakistan is in now in its second phase where along with raising awareness on VAW, it is also focusing more on building informal networks of Change Makers and strengthening the campaign alliance, so that by the end of 2011 We Can is established in Pakistan as an alliance led movement.

• A series of consultative workshops were held in 2004-05 to determine the country context in reference to VAW situation.
• All political parties publicly condemned honour killing.
• Active involvement of media with extensive media coverage in the first phase.
• Local clergy along with other stakeholders are also participating in the campaign in some districts.
• Two documentaries have been produced on the campaign including a dedication song ‘Apna Faisala’ for women who have been victims of Honour killing.
• Promotional material focusing on campaign messages developed and
• disseminated widely which include banners, posters, t-shirts, note books, pens, wrist bands, book marks, caps, scarves.
• 16 days of activism (25 to 10 Dec 2007) were organised. More then 64,459 signed in to join the campaign.
• Campaign is currently in its second phase.
• Joint actions taken by alliances to protest against cases of honour killings in their areas like recent case where five women were buried alive in Naseerabad, Balochistan, against Jirga decision where five girls were given in exchange to settle a dispute in Sindh seeking Supreme Court suo moto action to reverse Jirga decision etc.
• 1,000 events to end violence against women were held nationally from Nov 2008 to March 2009.
• Provincial Change maker Assemblies (Hyderabad, Peshawar, Lahore, Quetta) were successfully organized.
• National Change Maker Assembly in Bahawalpur (March 28 & 29,09) was attended by 700 change makers from all over Pakistan.
• Some of the districts have taken positive steps to stops acts of violence and promote gender equality
  - Exchange of women in Swara was banned by the Mardan district Jirga.
  - Exchange Marriages practice (Bahawalpur) banned.
  - Women’s group formed in Rahim yar khan
  - In Gothki district girls are getting secondary education.
  - Women complaint cell set up in police station at Bahawlpur