Aahung is recognised for its expertise in the area of sexual health and rights and now finds itself in a position to further its role in advocating for an enabling environment. One of Aahung’s key strategies to achieve its advocacy objectives is networking. Through networking with various sectors including local and regional NGOs, women’s groups, community organisations and professional associations, Aahung has continued to be at the forefront of various advocacy initiatives aimed toward achieving change in programmes, policy and legislation.
Advocating for a Better Medico-Legal Sector
In late 2005, Aahung embarked on a research project on the medico-legal sector in Karachi, Pakistan to determine the effectiveness of medico-legal services in Karachi. This research began as a joint initiative by Aahung, War Against Rape (WAR) and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and stemmed from WAR’s interaction with survivors of sexual violence and their difficulties in accessing quality medico-legal services.
All medico-legal sector stakeholders (Office of the Chemical Examiner, Additional Police Surgeons, Police Surgeon, and Medico-legal Officers - MLOs) were interviewed for this research. Interviews were also conducted with rape survivors to obtain qualitative information on their experiences. Based on the findings of this study, Aahung has compiled a list of recommendations to improve the functioning of the medico-legal departments in Karachi. In the near future, Aahung intends on lobbying the government to implement these recommendations.
Advocating for a Rights-Based Approach to HIV/AIDS Care and Support
Recently, Aahung collaborated with the Pakistan National AIDS Consortium (PNAC) and other partner organisations to conduct a series of seminars on “A Rights-Based Approach to HIV/AIDS Care and Support.” The purpose of the seminars was to promote discussion on the principles of a rights-based approach to HIV/AIDS and to gather recommendations on ways to enhance the quality and scope of HIV/AIDS-related services.
The seminars were held in various provinces across Pakistan: NWFP (Peshawar, February 2005); Sindh (Karachi, February 2005); Punjab (Lahore, November 2005); Balochistan (Quetta, March 2006); and Azad Kashmir (Muzzaffarabad, April 2006). In addition, a national seminar has been scheduled to be held in the near future. The seminar will serve as platform through which Aahung and PNAC will lobby the government of Pakistan to implement the recommendations collected from each province.
Advocating for Gender Equality
Aahung is currently conducting an awareness raising campaign on gender discrimination and sexual harassment. The campaign is divided into 2 main phases. The first phase is the poster dissemination phase and the second phase is the nautanki (street theatre) phase. The venues for both the poster dissemination and the nautanki are Bori Bazaar and Korangi.
During the first phase of the campaign, posters displaying visual and written messages on gender discrimination and sexual harassment will be disseminated in the selected areas in the first and second week of September 2006. The posters will also be pasted on buses, mini buses and other modes of public transportation that travel on routes between Bori Bazaar and Korangi. Please see images of the posters, along with a translation of the accompanying slogans, below:
During the second phase of the campaign, two interactive theatre groups, Hayat-e-Nau and Murk Theatre, will perform skits in the areas where the posters have been disseminated. The tentative dates for the nautanki are September 19th (Bori Bazaar) and September 20th and 21st (Korangi). The content of the nautanki is being developed in collaboration with Aahung and the theatre groups. The aim of the nautanki is to encourage debate and dialogue on the themes depicted in the posters. In addition, the nautanki will allow Aahung to gauge the general public’s perception of the themes raised.
Advocating for Gender Equality
Aahung is currently conducting an awareness raising campaign on gender discrimination and sexual harassment. The campaign is divided into 2 main phases. The first phase is the poster dissemination phase and the second phase is the nautanki (street theatre) phase. The venues for both the poster dissemination and the nautanki are Bori Bazaar and Korangi.
During the first phase of the campaign, posters displaying visual and written messages on gender discrimination and sexual harassment will be disseminated in the selected areas in the first and second week of September 2006. The posters will also be pasted on buses, mini buses and other modes of public transportation that travel on routes between Bori Bazaar and Korangi. Please see images of the posters, along with a translation of the accompanying slogans, below:
"Whether it's a boy or a girl the upbringing should be the same"
"It may be fun for you, but it is punishment for them"
During the second phase of the campaign, two interactive theatre groups, Hayat-e-Nau and Murk Theatre, will perform skits in the areas where the posters have been disseminated. The tentative dates for the nautanki are September 19th (Bori Bazaar) and September 20th and 21st (Korangi). The content of the nautanki is being developed in collaboration with Aahung and the theatre groups. The aim of the nautanki is to encourage debate and dialogue on the themes depicted in the posters. In addition, the nautanki will allow Aahung to gauge the general public’s perception of the themes raised.