Rubina Chandi

One of the Pioneers of Wo

Saroh Soc

Saroh

District KPh:

handio

f Women’s Social Activism in Sindh

By Sheikh Javed Ali Sindhi

Presented By

oh Social Development Organization Shahdadkot

Saroh Office, Near Scientific Public School, Railway Station Road, Shahdadkot,

strict Kamber-Shahdadkot, Sindh, Pakistan- 77300 Ph: +92-74-4012896, Cell: +92-3337505896

E-mail:org.saroh@gmail.com

2011

1

Profile

ndh-Pakistan

Rubina Chandio Rubina Chandio Rubina Chandio Rubina Chandio

One of theOne of theOne of theOne of the PioneersPioneersPioneersPioneers of Women’s Socof Women’s Socof Women’s Socof Women’s Soc

By Sheikh Javed Ali Sindhi By Sheikh Javed Ali Sindhi By Sheikh Javed Ali Sindhi By Sheikh Javed Ali Sindhi Rubina ChandioRubina ChandioRubina ChandioRubina Chandio is a social activist, g

manager, and social columnist. She

having worked for many years on w

(VAW), Women’s Mobility and Sex

and includes strengthening Pirbhat,

in 1995. She presently serves as the

(PWDS) Sindh. She has also attende

dialogues which have contributed in

rights, community mobilization, liv

international exposures of Thailand

Person of PRHN, Provincial Coordi

Women Global Network for Reprod

Family Family Family Family background & early lifebackground & early lifebackground & early lifebackground & early life

Rubina Chandio was born on 12th Ju

District Larkana, Sindh Pakistan. He

used to live in the foot hills of Khirt

grandfather Sabz Ali Khan Tamani /

the arid Qubo Saeed Khan plains. H

battles from the side of British Gove

from the military officials of the gov

Ghulam Umer Chandio also got ser

village. During his tenure he taught

time he used to teach children Holy

camels, cows and goats. His another

lands belonging to Rais Khuda Dino

Daro Taluka Qubo Saeed Khan, Dist

Moulvi Ghulam Umer Chandio mar

Liaqat Ali Khan and a daughter Zule

Kamdar (Lands caretaker) of Rais Kh

Bakhtawar Khatoon, both ladies we

Abdul Khalique, Abdul Rasheed, Ab

daughters Rasheeda, Waheeda, Rub

9th child of her siblings. Her father wa

Kotoo Motoo Chowk Shahdadkot. L

In her childhood she was fond of pl

AcademicsAcademicsAcademicsAcademics

Rubina Chandio attended Governm

Matriculation from Government Gi

Social Activism in Sindh Social Activism in Sindh Social Activism in Sindh Social Activism in Sindh----PakistanPakistanPakistanPakistan…………

ist, gender expert, trainer/facilitator, development

he is well known in the activist circles of Pakistan

n women’s issues especially those linked to Violen

Sexual Harassment. Her work on violence against

hat, the first Sindhi women’s development organiz

the Programme Coordinator of Pirbhat Women’s D

nded national & international capacity building ev

d in building her capacity and clarity on gender, le

, livelihood and disaster risk management. Rubina

and (2010), Bangladesh (2011) and Nepal (2011). Sh

rdinator of Gender Development Network Pakista

roductive Rights-Philippines.

June 1985 at Shahdadkot, a thickly populated cit

. Her ancestors belonged to Tamani sub clan of wa

hirthar Range in the north western extremity of Si

ni /Chandio was a local chief of his sub clan. He cu

s. He had a son named Ghulam Umer Chandio who

overnment of India (1843-1947). It’s why he was a

government.

service in Education Department as a Primary Sch

ght at Ghaibidero, Rap Watu Khan Chandio and K

oly Quran and other Islamic practices in the eveni

ther source of livelihood was agriculture in which h

ino Khan Chandio in Khan Wah village in present

District Kamber Shahdadkot Sindh. He died in 197

married Goher Khatoon Chandio who bore him two

Zulekha Bibi. Sabz Ali Khan Chandio, the father of

s Khuda Dino Khan Chandio. He got married with

were his cousins. They bore him 8 sons; Abdul Ha

, Abdul Sattar, Aijaz Ahmed, Abdul Jabbar and Ab

ubina, Irshad, Razia, Noor Jehan, Sorath and Sana

er was owner of a vegetable shop and had business

Little Rubina went her father’s shop and observe

f playing different games.

nment Noor Muhammadi Primary School Shahdad

t Girls High School Shahdadkot in 2000. She was i

2

ent

tan's social movement,

lence against Women

nst women spans over 7 years

nization in Pakistan founded

’s Development Society

g events, seminars, and

legal education, women

ina Chandio has also done

She is Provincial Focal

istan and youth member of

city and one a Taluka of

warrior Chandio tribe who

f Sindh. Her great

e cultivated a piece of land in

who took active part in the

as awarded with a sword

School Teacher in his own

d Khan Wah. At the same

vening. He also loved to rear

ich he cultivated 25 Jarebs of

sent Union Council Bago

1978 at the age of 85.

two sons Sabz Ali Khan &

r of Rubina Chandio was also

ith Malookan Khatoon and

l Haque, Abdul Razzaque,

Abdul Ghaffar and 08

ana. Rubina Chandio is the

ness in grain and fertilizer at

erved social characters there.

dadkots. She passed her

as inspired by Miss Asma

3

Sheikh during this period of schooling. Later she did intermediate from Government Girls College

Shahdadkot in 2002 with flying colours. She completed her B.A from Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur

Sindh in 2004. Rubina also got a Masters Degree in Sociology from the same university in 2006. She has also

received her Law Degree from Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur in 2007-08. Very recently she has done

M.Sc in Rural Development from University of Sindh Jamshoro, Sindh-Pakistan.

Career & Career & Career & Career & WorkWorkWorkWork

In 2004, with the support of Abdul Rasheed Chandio (her brother) and Zarqa Amber Lashari (her brother)

Rubina Chandio joined Pirbhat Women’s Development Society (PWDS) Shahdadkot as a volunteervolunteervolunteervolunteer. It was

the time when Kamber Shahdadkot was declared as a newly formed district in Upper Sindh. She became a

Social MobilizerSocial MobilizerSocial MobilizerSocial Mobilizer under Oxfam GB Project. Now her interest grew in Women Rights and Social Activism.

Very soon, she was promoted as a Field Field Field Field OfficerOfficerOfficerOfficer from 1st August 2004 to 1st August 2005 in Ending Violence

against Women Project which was funded by Oxfam/EU. Her main responsibilities were the formation of

local groups and CCBs in the project areas of Shahdadkot. She also built the capacity of Human Rights

Activists and CDF Members. Women’s participation also increased with her efforts in the programmes.

Afterwards she performed her duties as Programme AProgramme AProgramme AProgramme Associatessociatessociatessociate in the same project from 1st august 2005 to 31st

April 2007. During this period she did Assessment of VAW survivals. On the same theme she also arranged

meetings / workshops and seminars. Rubina Chandio was now able to identify new avenues to work on

women issues. Making Coordination with Stakeholders and Civil Society was also her new job task. She also

assisted Miss Ambreen Nawaz Sheikh, her Programme Coordinator (PC) in making Data Analysis in

different projects. During this time she reported to Senior Management of Organization regarding Project

activities. She also conducted baseline on VAW issues, function of Judiciary, local government and other

line departments in Upper Sindh. From July 2007 to November 2008 she performed her duties as Emergency Emergency Emergency Emergency

Relief Relief Relief Relief ManagerManagerManagerManager under

Emergency Health & Hygiene /WATSAN, Psycho-Social, winterization and Distribution Project funded by

Care International Pakistan/Japan, UN (OCHA & TOSA Foundation, Mercy Corps/Action against Hunger.

Her main responsibilities remained as under;

� Planning and Strategizing & Implementing the project

� Coordination with the all stakeholders working in the district.

� Provide technical support in WATSAN activities

� Compiling the detailed assessment and verification of beneficiaries in emergency

� Devising gender participation on equality in all activities

� Capacity building of staff as well as target VDCs

� Following Sphere Standards in the project activities

� Compiling assessment data/Regular and Final Progress Reports

Updating the donors/NGOs/INGOs of time to time emergency situations

From August 2010 to February 2011 Rubina Chandio was working as a Project Project Project Project CoordinatorCoordinatorCoordinatorCoordinator under

Emergency Food security & Livelihood Programme. Under this project she collected Pre Assessment Data of

the project. Reporting of Community Needs was compiled with the team management. The reporting of

Conditional and Unconditional Cash grant was also carried out within this time. This project started from

July 2007 and was ended by Oxfam GB in February 2011. From March 2010 to onwards she has remained

ProgrammeProgrammeProgrammeProgramme CoordinatorCoordinatorCoordinatorCoordinator under different projects i.e. Ending Violence against Women and Community

Restoration projects funded by Oxfam GB, Care International in Pakistan , UNDP. Mercy Corps, Govt: of

Sindh and ACF.

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WomenWomenWomenWomen’’’’s Social Activisms Social Activisms Social Activisms Social Activism

In District Kamber Shahdadkot, tribes are led by tribal chiefs who are protectors of their life and property.

The tribal chief follows the tribal code known as “Rivaj” (Customs) which holds administrative and judiciary

powers, thus state laws remain dysfunctional here. All decisions are taken by the Jirga, a council of tribal

male elders. The council tries cases of social and criminal nature. Women are barred from appearing before

the Jirga and cannot influence its decision. Exchange marriages are common in which the bride’s brother is

married to the groom’s sister or vise-a-versa. This custom assumed to secure the marriage of the two couples.

On the contrary unharmonious relations between one couple can create to problematic relations amongst

the other couple. Marriages are decided by elderly males of the family without taking consent of the couple.

Girls are married as early as 11 years while boys are considered ready for marriage by the age of 15.

Women are associated “no status” within the family here. The subordinate position of women limits their

control over resources and benefits. The women contribute to the family income by undertaking dual

responsibility of farm and household work but this is not recognized. On an average, women work 16 hours

a day. Women have no role in decision-making, their opinion is rarely consulted; men of the family make

all decisions. A woman’s mobility is restricted on the premise of modesty and protection from immoral

activity. A family’s honour is associated with the woman. If any woman chooses her life partner she is

killed! According to Saroh data 90 women and girls were killed in the name of Honour Killing from 2004 to

2009 in District Kamber Shahdadkot.

According to facts and figures provided by Action Aid Pakistan 85% women in Kamber-Shahdadkot district

suffer from domestic violence, 90% are succumbed to forced marriages, 45% girls are forced into child

marriages, 65% girls drop-out from school because of child marriages! Over generations women have been

socialized to accept that they have to live a life of submission to their fathers, brothers and husbands. The

decision of the men in the family is final and no one can question it especially not the women. In short

women have no legal rights; 90% women are unaware about their legal rights. Most of the women are killed

in different cases like Domestic violence, Honor killing, Inheritance, Murder, Tribal conflict and choice

marriage etc.

Rubina Chandio has been struggling for women rights, their promotion and violence against women issues

since 2004. She has actively taken part in “We Can End Violence against Women Campaign. The “We Can

Campaign” is a coalition of over 600 organizations (including Oxfam GB), collectives and individuals

working together Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan. From 2007 the campaign has been

extended to Afghanistan too. Under this campaign 100,000 Change Makers Forms have been filled in 5

districts of Upper Sindh namely Kandhkot Kashmore, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Kamber-Shahdadkot and

Larkana under the supervision of Rubina Chandio. Similarly she could have been able to save lives of round

about 200 women from Honour Killings in said areas from Pirbhat platform. All this was achieved with the

support of civil society rallies, demonstrations, dialogues, and Media, Judiciary, Line and enforcement

agencies. It is in the result of her efforts that nearly 500 females could get jobs in different organizations and

govt: departments in the district. Due to space, atmosphere, legal aid support and care many girls have been

started going to schools. It has increased literacy ratio in the area .It is a sign of enlightment and

development for the future generations. Vocational and health centers are opened with her support and

guidance in Shahdadkot.

Skills and capacity building trainings Skills and capacity building trainings Skills and capacity building trainings Skills and capacity building trainings

Miss Rubina Chandio is a self motivated and energetic lady with ability to articulate and can develop logical

solutions for making decisions and facing consequences. She has also good commanding skills. Following is

the list of Trainings/Seminars and Workshops she has attended so far in her career;

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Trainings/Seminars/Workshops (attended)Trainings/Seminars/Workshops (attended)Trainings/Seminars/Workshops (attended)Trainings/Seminars/Workshops (attended)

� 19 Days Para Legal training organized by Shirkatgah at Lahore, 2004.

� 12 Days Para Legal Refresher training organized by Shirkatgah, Karachi 2005.

� Three Days Training on Gender, Self and Development organized by Pirbhat, Shahdadkot 2005.

� Graduation on Human Rights Education Programme & Harmony Tolerance organized by Democratic

Commission for Human Development (DCHD), Lahore, 2006.

� 1 Month Pilot Course on Gender Mainstreaming, dealing with Violence against Women Survivors organized

by SACH Islamabad, 2006.

� 1 Day Training on Organization Development Needs Assessment organized by CHIP Islamabad, 2006.

� 1 Day training on Value Audit organized by CHIP Islamabad, 2006.

� 3 Days training on Proposal Writing organized by CHIP Islamabad, 2006.

� 1 Day training on Training Need Assessment organized by CHIP Islamabad, 2006.

� 4 Days training on progress report writing organized by CHIP Islamabad, 2007.

� 3 Days training on Monitoring, Evaluation & Advocacy organized by Shirkatgah Karachi, 2007.

� 3 Days Training on Gender Mainstreaming organized by CHIP Islamabad 2007.

� 1 Day Training on Sphere Standards organized by Care International Islamabad, 2007.

� 1 Day Training on Maintenance on Tools organized by Care International, 2007.

� 4 Days Training on Using Sphere Standards in Emergency Preparedness organized by Church World services

Hyderabad, 2008.

� 15 days Training of trainers on Good Governance and Democratic Programme conducted by Free & Fair

Elections Network (FAFEN) organized by The Asia Foundation Islamabad, 2009.

Trainings/Seminars/Workshops (conducted)Trainings/Seminars/Workshops (conducted)Trainings/Seminars/Workshops (conducted)Trainings/Seminars/Workshops (conducted)

• 2 Days training on Gender Mainstreaming (for Pirbhat staff and volunteers) 2006.

• Muslim family Law Ordinance 1961 (for Community activists) 2006.

• 3 Days training on Gender based Violence (for District Coordination Forum Ghotki, Jacobabad, Shikarpur,

Kamber Shahdadkot and Larkana) 2006.

• Convention on the Rights of Children (for Ghotki, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Kamber Shahdadkot and Larkana

districts) 2006.

• 2 Days workshop on gender sensitization with Jacobabad community 2006.

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• 3 Days workshop on Human Rights & Rights based approach with the Rural Communities of Shahdadkot)

2007.

• 1 Day training on Sphere standards in Emergencies 2007.

• Report Writing, CBO Management, Presentation Skills with CBOs 2008.

• 1 Day session on basic concepts on Gender & Development (to NDS Staff and Community) 2008.

• 1 Day orientation training on Sexual harassment Policy to Partner Organizations 2008.

• Conducted 1 Day Facilitation Session on Participatory Reflection Review Process with Shahdadkot

communities 2008.

• 2 Days Training on Violence against Women with Communities 2008.

• 1 Day Consultative Dialogue on Reproductive Health 2008.

• 5 Days Training on Constituency Coordinators on Governance and Democracy 2009.

• 3 Days ToT on the Role of Change Maker / Connector in the Ending Violence against Women 2010.

AchievementsAchievementsAchievementsAchievements

She has saved lives round about 200 women from Honour Killings in Kandhkot Kashmore, Jacobabad,

Shikarpur, Kamber-Shahdadkot and Larkana districts. It is in the result of her efforts that nearly 500 girls

and women could get jobs in different organizations and Govt: departments in the district. She has spent her

career defending the Human and Women rights, rights of religious minorities and children in Sindh

Pakistan. She has also remained a staunch critic of the Hudood Ordinance in the country. She took Harassment issues against women on broader level. She is a fearless campaigner of We Can Campaign

funded by Oxfam GB.

Threats Threats Threats Threats

Rubina Chandio has received numerous threats over the years due to her activism and women rights work

but she continues her battle for women rights and their empowerment in the society.

Travels Travels Travels Travels / Exposure Visits/ Exposure Visits/ Exposure Visits/ Exposure Visits

She has attended many national and international events including Thailand, Bangladesh and India. Some of

the details are given as under;

� She has attended 08 days 2nd Basic Course on Human Security organized by OHRSD Mahidol University and

HAS Bangkok, Thailand, 2010.

� Regional Consultation Meeting on Reproductive Health Rights and 1st International Congress on Women’s

Health and Unsafe Abortion from 16th to 23rd January 2010, Bangkok, Thailand.

� School of Peace Studies and Conflict Transformation in Pattani Thailand from 21st February to 16th March

2010 organized by Asian Muslim Action Network & Centre for Conflict Studies and Cultural Diversity Prince

of Songkhla University Pattani Thailand.

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� She has also attended We Can Regional Change Makers Assembly from 10 to 13th May 2010 in Chittagong,

Bangladesh

� Rubina Chandio has also attended the We Can Summit from 6th to 8th March 2011 at Gudvari ,Nepal

Research Research Research Research

10 days research on Cause Underlying Poverty with Care International Pakistan and Bangladesh team in

District Kamber Shahdadkot, Sindh, Pakistan. 2008.

PublicationsPublicationsPublicationsPublications

She has written some 10 articles, reports and case studies on women issues and their empowerment. Some of

them are published in local Sindhi newspapers.

Acknowledgements Acknowledgements Acknowledgements Acknowledgements

Rubina Chandio has received certificates as well as Awards from Women Action Forum (WAF), Rozan and

Awaz Foundation on her work and achievements from Pirbhat platform. She also prepared an Abstract on

Reproductive Health on which she was awarded with a scholarship from Thailand in 2008.

Personal lifePersonal lifePersonal lifePersonal life

She is unmarried and lives with her family in Shahdadkot. Her ideal personalities are Mohtarma Benazir

Bhutto (in Politics) and Wahab Pandrani (in Social Work). She loves to read Khalil Gibron (1883-1931), a

Lebanese American artist, poet and writer. She also likes Urdu poetry of Faiz Ahmed Faiz (1911-1984) and

Parveen Shakir (1952-1994). Her profile and views can be watched on YouTube in a documentary prepared

by We Can End VAW Organization Pakistan. Its title is “The Fearless CampaignerThe Fearless CampaignerThe Fearless CampaignerThe Fearless Campaigner” in 2010.

Well-known feminist activists such as Aqsa Khan, Shakeela Khan, Amar Sindhu, Irfana Mallah, Haseen

Musarat Shah, Zarqa Amber Lashari and Hajul Silro are her close friends and companions. She is highly

inspired by Tanveer Jehan, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Director, Lahore Pakistan and

Dr. Syeda Nafisa Shah, Ex Member of National Assembly (MNA) of Pakistan and Chair of National

Commission for Human Development (NCHD) Khairpur Mir’s, Sindh Pakistan.

Strengths & Weaknesses Strengths & Weaknesses Strengths & Weaknesses Strengths & Weaknesses

According to her colleagues she is sympathetic, caring and smiling person. She is hardworking lady and

remains calm and never becomes angry to her co-workers. She can talk and discuss on any current topic.

She works with others in a polite way. She nicely played her role during 2007 and 2010 floods in Kamber

Shahdadkot and distributed Food and Non Food Items (NFIs) in the IDPs camped at Kamber Shahdadkot

and Larkana Districts in Sindh. Her hobby is to collect data and information on issues of Violence against

Women. Rubina Chandio confirms that she is not a regular reader that’s why her study is not going well.

She likes Sufi Music and believes in global brotherhood and harmony.

Message Message Message Message

“Let’s fight for our rights. Come forward like us and be a part of campaigns such as the “We Can End

Violence against Women”. We need to participate in movements that demand a dignified existence for all. I

believe we can succeed and we have proven to the world that we do not give up! We will fight for our rights

in every way where ever possible!”

((((Note: Note: Note: Note: The motive of compiling this profile is an attempt to inspire and encourage women and girls of our society to work accordinglThe motive of compiling this profile is an attempt to inspire and encourage women and girls of our society to work accordinglThe motive of compiling this profile is an attempt to inspire and encourage women and girls of our society to work accordinglThe motive of compiling this profile is an attempt to inspire and encourage women and girls of our society to work accordingly.y.y.y.))))