madadgaar national helpline (pakistan) a focus on advocacy strategies at national level 1 madadgaar...

Madadgaar National Helpline(Pakistan)

A focus on advocacy strategies at National Level

1Madadgaar National Helpline, Pakistan

Lawyers for human rights and legal Aid

(LHRLA)In 1989, about 50 lawyers realizing a

need for both correctional and preventive actions got together under

one roof to establish a forum that could make legal aid affordable to

and within reach of the marginalized section of the society especially

women, youth and children.


Establishment of Madadgaar

(Journey from 2001 – 2013)

• Apart from legal aid, victims required additional support and a platform to deal with their other needs for which LHRLA established Pakistan’s first Helpline for Children and Women suffering from Violence, Abuse and Exploitation in 2001.

• The name “Madadgaar” was selected by children, which means “The Helper”

• Need to cater the development domain and not only to focus on maintaining the status quo.

• The idea was proposed to SDC (in 1997) that provided funding through UNICEF.


To eliminate violence in all its forms and manifestation against children and women, and to enable making of an environment conducive for gender equity and equality.

Organizational Goal


Mission

“Go beyond legal aid to institutionalize the process of accessing justice equally by all, especially by the marginalized women and children. Concentrate on measures that prevent human right violations and improve the governance and empowers the masses while continuing the provision of legal services to victims”.


Services

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Telephonic Counseling

Walk in clients

Referral

Follow up

Virtual Counseling

Social Media

SMS, Facebook,

Twitter, Web Page,

E-mails, etc.

Landline, Mobile, etc

Via Calls, Visits, etc

Facebook,

Twitter, Skype,

etc

Personal Visit, Visit by 2nd and 3rd Person

Governmental and

non-governme

ntal institutes


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Referral Networking

• we are nation’s largest service providing network with more than 1000 referral partners.

• These referral partners(including public and private institutes) provide services including shelter, medical treatment, medico-legal examination, police inquiry and investigation, financial aid, legal aid, consultation, etc.


Association at UN Level

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• UNICEF – a decade long partnership (May 1999-Dec2010)

• UNDP – helped in establishing helpline in Sindh (Aug 2008-Aug2011)

• UNESCAP – (Nov-Dec 2000)

• IOM – (Dec 2010-Sept 2011)


Association at International Levels

• CHI – global network of child helplines in 136 countries (Nov 2011- till date)

• PLAN INTERNATIONAL – operating in Pakistan since 1997 (Nov 2011- till date)

• CARAM-Asia - a regional network on migration and health issues formed in 1997. (Jan 2004- Dec 2004)


Association at Regional Level

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•ADB a pilot project on addressing and eliminating gender based violence. (Feb 2013-till date)

•Madadgaar represented Pakistan on the platform of South Asian Initiative to End Violence against Children (SAIEVAC).

• Participation of Madadgaar in the South Asian Association of Child Helplines (SAACH).

• Participation of LHRLA in Asian consortium for human rights-based access to justice (HRBA2J). 10Madadgaar National Helpline, Pakistan

Advocacy Strategies at National Level


• Checking the gaps between demand and supply of services, its quality and sustainability

• Supplementing and complementing the government’s agenda of protection

• Taking media as an important tool

• Database of all the cases and issues

• National strategy is a part of regional strategy as we are closely working with and repesenting at regional level to coice out issues and learn their strategies.

Partnership with Human Rights Ministry Public Private Partnership

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• International pressure from SAARC _ Successful installation of 4 digit unified code 1098 by the support of Federal Ministry of Human Rights.

• A great initiative was taken by the government for the ownership of helpline. Mr. Saeed Ahmed Alvi and Mr. Shaigan Sharif, and Ms.Rubina QaimKhani visited Madadgaar Helpline and approved the suggestion of installing 1098.


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• Cost effective for helpline and clients

• Easy to remember

• Harmonization of Telephone number at regional level

• 1098 is a South Asian number that allows easy cross-border recognition and protection services.


Benefits of 1098

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Future Vision

• To approach government for ownership of single number to facilitate system

• To make 1098 completely free of charge, within the reach of population

• To initiate the working of number individually at divisional and then at district level to reach population in small towns. 14Madadgaar National Helpline, Pakistan

Resource Pool of Lawyers at National Level

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• To facilitate the survivors of Gender based violence (GBV).

• To build a network of activist lawyers who can provide services to the survivors of GBV.

• Panel of 100 lawyers for resource pool at Regional Headquarters.

• Training was provided to 52 selected lawyers in Karachi.

• They will provide services to 5 cases of GBV or legal notices and legal advice


Working of Newspaper Database

Data Analysis and Data Sharing

Compilation of statistics on monthly, quarterly and yearly basis

Data entry in computerized database

Filing of news related to thematic issues

Marking and Cutting of news related to highlighted issues daily

Monitoring of 17 Newspapers daily to find out issues related to violation of human rights in child, youth and women


S#

SOFT DATA ISSUES (16)

1 Police Torture

2 Police Encounter

3 Hudood Ordinance Cases

4 Human Trafficking

5 Missing Children

6 Death Penalty

7 Karo –Kari/Honor Killing

8 Suicide

9 Burn Cases

10 Child Abuse

11 Women Abuse

12 Kidnapping

13 Separation (Khula)

14 Professional Killing

15 Runaway Cases

16 Women Arrest

NEWSPAPER

DATABASE

S# MONITERED ISSUES (68)1 Human Rights Issues

2 Accidental Death

3 Family Law Issues

4 Law Enforcement Issues

5 Target Killing

6 Legislation

7 Important articles on data issues

8 Health and Mental Health Issues

9 Corporal Punishment

10 Abandoned Children

11 Juvenile Justice

12 Female Offenders

13 Corpse Found

14 Pakistan Data & Statistics

15 Social Issues

16 Others…17

Utilization of data from Database

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• Comprehensive documentation of human rights violations

• Recognition of database in media

• Use for advocacy at policy level

• Advocacy for the ratification and proper implementation of UN instruments

• Awareness raising among masses on magnitude of violence

• Formation and standardization of implications

• Understanding of Population parameters18Madadgaar National Helpline, Pakistan

Madadgaar Youth Advocates (MYA)

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Madadgaar established youth club by the name of Madadgaar Youth Advocates (MYA) in 43 institutions across Pakistan having 70:30 female to male ratios to empower women.

Purpose of Youth Club: Engage the youth and students in community development.Aware them regarding the social issues especially related to women and children. Channelize youth energy to take-up and try to solve social issues at their levelYouth clubs will focus on empowering youth and develop leadership skills amongst the youth especially girls. Encourage youth to increase volunteerism.Provide non-formal education to youth.


Using Media as an

Advocacy Tool


The Importance to Work with Media

• By regularly conveying information to important audiences, from the general public to government and international decision makers, the media plays a large role in shaping public debate.

• Some ways in which the media can be of importance to NGOs include: 1. counter popular misconceptions 2. create an environment of political

pressure 3. comment on an issue, providing an

alternative viewpoint 4. convey general information, serving as

a public education tool


Our Strategy

Madadgaar:• Identifies trends and shares thoughts on it

with media• Shares case stories with media to let people

know about the harsh realities of life.• Has made a database of media channels, media

personnel and newspaper agencies.• Extends co-ordination with media and remain in

co-ordination through calls, e-mails, faxes and press club.

• Takes media as an integral part of organization and works hand in hand with them in all issues and circumstances. 23Madadgaar National Helpline, Pakistan

Our Strategy

• Highlights issues related to children & women protection at national and international platforms using all sources of media (Electronic, Print and Social).

• Provides information and data to media as a continues process done through:

ARY madadgaar, talk shows, A series of programs with Aaj TV , Documentary, News

reports • Sensitizes media personnel on child

protection issues through Articles, Press release and Press briefing , Social Networking sites, and Workshops.


CASE STUDY

On July 2012, a 16 year old innocent girl became a victim of rape. The life of this young girl was ruined when she was alone at her home and a

boy living in her neighbor physically abused and raped her. Unfortunately, the girl faced severe life crisis when she got to know that she has conceived a baby. The family of this young girl tried to convince

the boy to get married to her which he refused. The offender continuously threatened the young girl and tortured her mentally. The

helpless parents of the victim came to madadgaar to seek help. Madadgaar referred them to DIG south and concerned SHO and FIR

NO. 84/012 was registered. With this, Madadgaar also provided medico-legal aid to the victim and got the offender arrested. Moreover, on family’s concern related to abortion of the conceived child, he was

referred to Marie Stopes Hospital for medical assistance. In all, Madadgaar proved to be an excellent example where it helped the

innocent girl and helped to provide justice to her in all possible ways.


CASE STUDY (ANJUM ARA BEGUM)

Anjum Ara Begum, a middle aged lady had been a victim of domestic violence after few days of her marriage. Anjum Ara along with her two children found it very difficult to survive in such dreadful conditions of physical and mental torture. She is working at SOS village where she

lives with her young son.On 3rd September 2012, Anjum Ara came to Madadgaar National Helpline and requested for providing justice to her. After thorough counseling by Madadgaar’s officers, the issue of Anjum came to the forefront as she wanted khula from her husband and a secure shelter for her daughter.

Madadgaar dealt with Anjum’s request on priority basis. She was provided free legal aid for her khula case and her daughter was sent to Sirat-ul-Jannah Orphanage home. Madadgaar is efficiently dealing with the case by taking continuous follow up with shelter home and Anjum as

well. In all, to a large extent Madadgaar has been successful in overcoming the issues of domestic violence and also provided aid so that

the victim can live a normal life again.


Challenges

• Difficult to find professional people and staff

• Less sustainability with youth

• Government is not so receptive


Recommendations

• Arrange trainings at international and regional levels, involving helplines as trainers

• Comprehensive internship and volunteer program

• Involve community services as a part of curriculum in universities

• Trainings with and from media 28Madadgaar National Helpline, Pakistan

madadgaar national helpline (pakistan) a focus on advocacy strategies at national level 1 madadgaar...

Documents

child helpline data

legal aid lhrla

rights of children

legal aid affordable

marginalised children

financial aid

provision of legal services

medicolegal examination