KEY INITIATIVES FOR THE PROTECTION OF MINORITY WOMEN & GIRLS
National Consultation & Report on Minority Women in Pakistan - August 2021 to September 2021
In collaboration with the Peace and Justice Network (PJN) and the Minority Women’s Forum, we embarked on an essential initiative—the National Consultation on Minority Women in Pakistan. This project aimed to shed light on the experiences, challenges, and opportunities faced by minority women in the country. Here are the key highlights of our efforts:
Extensive
Dialogue:
We facilitated extensive and inclusive dialogues with minority women from diverse backgrounds across Pakistan. These dialogues provided a platform for these women to share their unique perspectives, challenges, and aspirations.
Comprehensive
Report:
The culmination of these dialogues was a comprehensive report that centered on gender equality within the framework of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This report served as a critical document, reflecting the voices and experiences of minority women in Pakistan.
Foundation for
Advocacy:
The report we created during this initiative served as the bedrock for our ongoing research and advocacy efforts. It guided our mission to enhance the status and rights of minority women in Pakistan, ensuring that their voices are heard and their rights are protected.
Through this collaboration and consultation, we are committed to advocating for the rights and well-being of minority women in Pakistan, promoting gender equality, and striving for a more inclusive and just society where every voice is valued and every individual is empowered.
Focus Group Discussions on Hate Speech and Forced Conversion - September 2021 to December 2021
During the period from September to December 2021, we conducted an impactful initiative with the invaluable support of the National Dialogue Forum. This initiative centered around conducting Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with representatives of the Christian community in Punjab.
Here's a glimpse of our efforts:
Coordinated
FGDs:
We successfully coordinated and executed a series of six Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) involving representatives from the Christian community. These discussions took place in three districts across Punjab—Lahore, Faisalabad, and Rawalpindi. To ensure inclusivity, we organized gender-segregated sessions, allowing for a comprehensive exploration of perspectives.
Data Management and
Analysis:
Our team meticulously managed the transcription, analysis, and reporting of data gathered during these FGDs. The insights and information collected provided invaluable knowledge and understanding of the issues surrounding hate speech and forced conversion within the Christian community.
Strategic Advocacy
Insights:
The data and insights derived from these discussions have proven to be instrumental in shaping our strategic advocacy efforts. They have served as a foundation for our work aimed at addressing the critical issues of hate speech and forced conversion, advocating for justice, tolerance, and equality.
Through these Focus Group Discussions, we remain committed to advocating for the rights and well-being of marginalized communities, fostering a more inclusive and tolerant society where hate speech and forced conversions are eradicated, and every individual is treated with respect and dignity.
Protecting Minority Minor Girls against Child Marriage - July 2022 to September 2022
During the period from July to September 2022, we embarked on a crucial initiative dedicated to safeguarding the rights of minor girls from marginalized minority communities, particularly against the practice of child marriage.
Here's an overview of our efforts:
Policy Dialogue and
Stakeholder Consultations:
We conducted extensive consultations with key stakeholders, bringing together policymakers, parliamentarians, and representatives from sanitation worker organizations. These dialogues provided a platform for diverse perspectives and insights, fostering collaboration and understanding.
Highlighting
Challenges:
Our initiative shed light on the significant challenges faced by minor girls from marginalized minority communities, particularly in the context of child marriage. We aimed to raise awareness about the issues these girls encounter within Pakistani society.
Comprehensive
Recommendations:
As a result of our collaborative efforts, we developed a comprehensive set of recommendations aimed at protecting the rights and well-being of minor girls. These recommendations align with international standards and advocate for dignity and decency in the treatment of this vulnerable group.
Advocacy
Tool:
While the paper is yet to be published, it is poised to become a strategic advocacy tool. This tool will play a vital role in influencing policies and practices to ensure better treatment and protection for minor girls from marginalized minority communities, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and just society.
Our commitment to advocating for the rights of the marginalized and vulnerable is at the core of this initiative. We aim to create lasting change, where child marriage is eradicated, and every minor girl can enjoy her childhood, pursue education, and build a brighter future.
OTHER INITIATVES FOR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITITES
Impact of COVID Vaccines among Dalit Communities in Pakistan - August 2022 to October 2022
During the period of August to October 2022, we undertook a vital project in collaboration with the Asia Dalit Forum. This project aimed to examine the implications of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign on Dalit communities in Pakistan, a marginalized and vulnerable group. Here's an overview of our efforts:
Baseline
Survey:
We conducted a comprehensive baseline survey to assess the status of COVID-19 vaccination among households belonging to the Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD), with a specific focus on Dalit households in Pakistan.
Data
Compilation:
Our team diligently compiled the survey data and meticulously documented the survey details, organizing the information in an accessible Excel sheet for further analysis.
Survey
Analysis:
We provided critical support in analyzing the survey data, offering valuable insights that contributed to the development of a regional position paper. This paper delved into the various forms of discrimination and inequalities faced by CDWD communities, including Dalits, in the context of vaccination campaigns in Pakistan.
Case
Studies:
To gain a deeper understanding of the wider impact of COVID-19 and vaccination status among Dalit communities, we conducted case studies. These case studies shed light on the discrimination and inequality experienced by Dalits in accessing vaccines.
Advocacy and Sharing
Insights:
Through our efforts, we prepared and shared two impactful case studies that highlighted instances of vaccine inequality and discrimination faced by Dalits in Pakistan. These insights served as powerful advocacy tools to drive change and promote more equitable access to vaccines.
Our work in this project underscores our commitment to addressing health disparities and promoting equity in access to essential healthcare services, especially during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic. We remain dedicated to advocating for the rights and well-being of marginalized communities, ensuring that they receive the support and attention they rightfully deserve.
Support Our Work
At the Center for Law & Justice (CLJ), we are dedicated to protecting the rights and interests of disadvantaged religious communities, women, and labor rights. We work relentlessly to promote dignity, gender justice, participation, collaboration, equality, sustainability, and climate justice.
