Post Event Activity Summary Report By Dr.Rakhshinda Perveen, Chair FADAN

Event Activity Summary Report Event: Down with Dowry

Date: December 9, 2015

Location: Ambassador Hall, Marriott, and Islamabad, Pakistan

Activity: An Advocacy Session for an Anti Dowry Legislation, Media & Youth

Coordinator/s: Ms.Fauzia Tariq (UNWOMEN), Dr. Rakhshinda Perveen (FADAN & agehi)

Post Event Activity Summary Report By Dr.Rakhshinda Perveen, Chair FADAN

About Our Event Activity… Brief description

Fight Against Dowry Advocacy Network (fadan) & agehi with the

support of UNWOMEN Pakistan, organized an advocacy session “down

with dowry - for an anti dowry legislation, media & youth” in

connection with 16 days of activism to address gender based violence on

December 9,2015 in Islamabad, Pakistan.

A sizeable number of passionate civil society members including university students,

gender experts, rights based advocates, youth leaders, media professional and human rights

activists representing solidarity with Fight Against Dowry Advocacy Network(FADAN),

whose national secretariat is managed by agehi resource centre, convened at an advocacy

evening supported by UNWOMEN Pakistan to recommit to ending violence and

discrimination against women and girls in the name of a tradition like dowry and subsequent

abuses.

The event was organized in connection with the global 16 days of activism against gender

based violence. The event was marked by the presence of renowned human rights activist

Mr. I A Rehman who presented his key note address and was chaired by Barrister Zafarullah

Khan, special Assistant to the Prime Minister and Minister of State on Human Rights.

Barrister Zafarullah expressed the solidarity and announced the intention of public policy on

human rights besides inviting FADAN in January 2016, to suggest amendments in the law

and framework for the said policy.

Mr. A Rehman highlighted the relevance of law and role of youth and media in addressing

dowry violence in human rights perspectives. Also included was an energetic interactive

session, moderated by the chair FADAN with youth leaders and Media representatives. All

speakers while acknowledging the efforts of FADAN urged the decision makers to take

notice of dowry violence and formulate anti dowry public policies and legislation .The

speakers also underscored the role of youth especially young men in eliminating dowry and

other forms of violence against women and girls. Media especially TV channels are also

requested that instead of glorifying lavish wedding, expensive bridal dresses and

institutionalizing dowry, it should promote simple marriages and dowry free and even dowry

demand free marriages.

Mr.Jamshed Kazi introduced the He for She campaign of UNWOMEN .in his welcome

note he congratulated FADAN and its. Volunteers for strongly voicing this issue in Pakistan

and declaring 17th November as the National Anti-Dowry day in Pakistan. He expressed

the hope that such efforts would intensify its advocacy for changing behaviors and attitude

and its demand for Comprehensive legislation. He congratulated SACHET, as the founder

organization for FADAN and its current secretariat agehi resource centre in successfully

mobilizing considerable number of young people (around 25000) across the country who

pledged to reject this practice which is a social curse. The country representative of

UNWomen, Pakistan while thanking the august gathering assured that his organization will

continue to give due attention to dowry related violence and to cover a range of issues

Post Event Activity Summary Report By Dr.Rakhshinda Perveen, Chair FADAN

addressing the most pressing barriers for women, such as increasing investment in gender

equality, reaching parity for women at all levels of decision-making, eliminating

discriminatory legislation, and addressing social norms that perpetuate discrimination and

violence against women.

The engagement and participation of youth - as advocates for rights and equality - is

essential to achieve sustainable human development and Pakistan needs an anti dowry

legislation. This was the general consensus that emerged from the session that was also

addressed by the Member ICT for National Human Rights Commission Chaudhry Shafique,

PTV Home’s General manager Ms.Farkhanda Shaheen, TV anchor Faroque Hassan &

activist Rabea Hadi.

Objectives

To familiarize the target audience with forms of dowry and related violence

To stimulate a thinking process among the target audience regarding

understanding of gender roles and dowry violence

To initiate an informed dialogue process for challenging stereo gender roles

in Pakistani society

Immediate outcome

Positive feedback was received by the young participants, Chief guest (Barrister

Zafarullah Khan, special Assistant to the Prime Minister and Minister of State on

Human Rights), key note speaker (renowned human rights activist Mr. I A Rehman)

and distinguished panellists (Member ICT for National Human Rights Commission

Chaudhry Shafique, PTV Home’s General manager Ms.Farkhanda Shaheen, TV

anchor Faroque Hassan & activist Ms.Rabea Hadi).

The meeting was successful in engaging Policy maker, CSO Networks, Human

Rights Activists, Media and young people and their organizations to raise awareness

and come up with key recommendations in addressing the issue.

The statements made by Barrister Zafarullah Khan were significant and have paved

the way to advance and intensify the movement for legislative advocacy.

Post Event Activity Summary Report By Dr.Rakhshinda Perveen, Chair FADAN

How We Did It…

Step by step

UNWOMEN and FADAN have a long history of technical alliance. This year a proposal was shared with UNWOMEN to highlight dowry related violence during 16 days of activism. Respective coordinators from UNWOMEN & FADAN worked together with the leadership and Senior management support of UNWOMEN. An agreed concept note was shared in advance with high profile speakers and their time was obtained. It was indeed a tall order considering number of activities during 16 days of activism within development circles in Islamabad. FADAN carried out a number of sideline and mainstream activities to revive the issue of dowry violence and need for an anti dowry public policy & legislation, responsible media and aware youth to address the multifaceted form of GBV & VAWG. Advocacy & voluntary technical assistance to the NCSW for including Dowry as a form of VAWG & including related indicators in the first ever national study supported by International Donors.

Radio: FADAN chair was invited as a key panellist for a Radio program recorded on December 4, 2015, on harmful cultural practices including dowry violence as a part of the campaign by NCSW against GBV. NGO Uks research centre also recorded Chair’s message in their program. Anti-Dowry Violence Day: FADAN has declared 17th November as the Anti- Dowry Violence Day by FADAN. A meeting is planned on the 17th November in Islamabad with Its members and supporters to commemorate Anti Dowry Day. Policy Dialogues “Down With Dowry: What Pakistan needs to do to address Dowry Related Violence?” with the policy makers, media, youth and civil society activists. An interactive and engaging dialogue with the key stakeholders will be organized by the Fight Against Dowry advocacy Network (FADAN) & Agehi on December 09, 2015, with the support of UNWomen, Pakistan in connection with the 16 days of activism to Against gender based violence & VAWG. FADAN wrote different write-ups and blogs. Asian Human Rights Commission published different pieces by Dr.Rakhshinda Perveen.

Post Event Activity Summary Report By Dr.Rakhshinda Perveen, Chair FADAN

What We Required… Labour/volunteers

UNWOMEN provided the logistic support. However, the required support from media could not be obtained due to resource constraints.

FADAN does not receive any funding and is purely a voluntary network. Thus, there are no dedicated staff members to manage it but a few passionate volunteers who have a day job.

The Way Forward:

Maintain the momentum by:

Actively engaging youth in universities

Reaching out the mass media

Lobbying with the legislators

Action points:

1. Organize a multi level stakeholders’ consultation for the framework of a public

policy on dowry and related violence , responsible media, youth engagement and

an anti dowry legislation.

2. Prepare a draft in the light of the consultation for sharing with the Ministry of

Human Rights for an expected meeting ( as announced by the Minister of the State

at the event)

Annexes:

1. Power point presentation of FADAN

2. Snaps

Post Event Activity Summary Report By Dr.Rakhshinda Perveen, Chair FADAN

Post Event Activity Summary Report By Dr.Rakhshinda Perveen, Chair FADAN