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AAWAZ Activities

AAWAZ is a voice and accountability programme that aims is “stable, inclusive and tolerant democracy in Pakistan” with a focus result of “democratic processes in Pakistan are more open, inclusive and accountable to citizens” specially focused on women and minority religious groups. AAWAZ is 5 years funded Programme by DFID operating in two provinces of Pakistan i.e. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. The project is implemented through management organization (DAI) and 5 leading NGO’s of Pakistan i.e. Aurat Foundation, Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO), South Asia Partnership Pakistan (SAP-PK), Sungi Development Foundation and Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).

The geographical range of AAWAZ Programme is 45 districts while Aurat Foundation is operating in 13 districts of both provinces. 

Programme Outputs:

  • Output 1 - Gender: Enhanced political participation of women in public life without fear of gender-based violence
  • Output 2 - Conflict/dispute resolution: Achieve social harmony within and across communities through addressing tribal, sectarian, ethnic, faith-based disputes
  • Output 3 - Citizens engagement: Promote active and informed participation of citizens in order to articulate their priorities and demands for improved service delivery
  • Output 4 - PAAR: The fourth and overarching component of AAWAZ is policy, advocacy, research and results (PARR) facility. The primary mandate is to leverage reform and change.

Aurat Foundation has taken main responsibility of output 1, as AF always ensured women’s participation in decision making forums so AAWAZ programme will also strengthen these processes.

Output 1: AAWAZ programme will help to develop provincial and national gender-based legislative plans for ensuring equality of rights and status of women and other excluded groups on an annual basis in collaboration with women legislators and concerned provincial departments in Punjab and KP and key stakeholders and concerned ministries and institutions at the federal level. The programme will encourage better enforcement of existing laws that prevent VAW through building women’s capacities and increasing their participation via awareness-raising activities.
Output 2: AAWAZ Programme will create a peace constituency that is built up from the grassroots level to the federal level through raising awareness and educating people on their rights, responsibilities, and how to use existing dispute resolution mechanisms to constructively work through their differences.
Output 3: AAWAZ Programme will facilitating networking and coalition building at the community level will be working with community groups, comprising women and minorities, to identify a shared vision for their community and define local priorities for service delivery needs. Citizen’s voice and strengthening accountability are volunteer, local-level citizen committees
Output 4: AAWAZ Programme will encourage knowledge base and understanding of programme impact through independent monitoring and evaluation of all partners organisation. The programme will expand the circulation and dissemination of relevant, evidence-based knowledge on development issues; and advocacy efforts to use Response fund and PAAR facility


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Activity title:             Launching AAWAZ District Group.
Date:                          October 18, 2012.
Venue:                       Q’s International Hotel, Sargodha.

Brief highlight:

Aurat Foundation’s AAWAZ programme team launched  AAWAZ District  Group (ADG) for Sargodha  district on October 18, 2012, at Sargodha.  The participant included representatives of AAWAZ consortium partners, former women councilors, members of political parties, governmental officials, ECP and NADRA officials, students of gender departments,  media persons, representatives of NGO and CBOs, lawyers and youth groups.  Begum Zakia Shahnawaz, Advisor to the  Chief Minister, Punjab, participated as chief guest.  Speakers included Ms Rukhsana Bhatti Advocate, Central General Secretary PTI Women Wing, Mr Fazal Awan, Deputy District Officer, Education, Mr Asim Malik, National Manager, AAWAZ Voice and Accountability Programme.  Ms Mumtaz Mughal, Provincial Manager, AAWAZ programme moderated the event.

The agenda included orientation of AAWAZ-Voice and Accountability Programme, key role and responsibilities of  AAWAZ District Group, situation analysis on women’s safe participation in political process, citizens’ access to justice and citizens’ engagement in public services.
 
Ms Mumtaz Mughal gave a detail orientation of AAWAZ-Voice and Accountability Programme, covering the following points; context and need of AAWAZ in Pakistan, AAWAZ  vision, goal and objectives, brief introduction of AAWAZ consortium  partners, core focus, institutional arrangements of AAWAZ, AAWAZ institutional frame work  at  district level and Aawaz Implementation strategy. She told that it is five-year civil society lead program. AAWAZ has a 9-month inception phase and Sargodha is selected for pilot phase. Aawaz programme would be implemented in 100 villages of 10 union councils (UCs) of Sargodha. This programme would be implemented in 5000 Villages/Urban/settlements across 45 districts of KPK and Punjab.

AAWAZ District Group (ADG) is one of the proposed institutional structures under Aawaz programme. This group is formed for lobbying, advocacy and action at the district level. This group will provide technical assistance and guidance to UC and village level structures. ADG would develop linkage with its counterparts

Begum Zakia Shahnawaz stressed upon the need for making sincere and joint efforts to overcome the menace of violence on women. She said that the Punjab government is implementing a number of development programmes aimed at welfare, uplift and wellbeing of women.

 

 

(L-R) Mr Fazal Awan, Ms Rukhsana Bhatti Advocate,  Begum Zakia Shahnawaz and Mr Asim Malik. 

 

Begum Zakia Shahnawaz speaking on the occasion.

     
 
(L-R) Ms Mumtaz Mughal, Mr Fazal Awan, Ms Rukhsana Bhatti Advocate,  Begum Zakia Shahnawaz, Mr Asim Malik, and Ms Shamas Naveed Cheema.    A view of the  launch. 

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Activity title:    Formation of Aawaz Women Caucus & celebrating of National Voters Day
Dated:             October 17, 2012.
Venue:            Q’s International Hotel, Sargodha.

Brief highlight:

Aurat Foundation’s AAWAS programme celebrated the National Voters Day with the formation of AAWAS Women Caucus, on October 17, 2012, at Sargodha. The participants included women leaders, representatives of political parties, lawyers, representatives of women groups of ATTs from UCs, Election Commission of Pakistan, civil society, media and representatives of government departments.  The first session was moderated by Ms Aneela Qasim, Assistant District Programme Officer, Sargodha.  The agenda included  orientation of AAWAZ-Voice and Accountability Programme, orientation of role and responsibilities of AAWAZ Women Caucus, ensuring women’s participation in political process, women’s right to vote and celebration of National Voter’s Day.  Ms Sobia Mir Zaman District Coordinator AF gave an orientation of Aawaz-Voice and Accountability Programme. She also focused role of Women Causes in Aawaz programme.  Ms Rukhsana Bhatti Advocate conducted a session on current political situation and role of women in politics. In the end, participants developed their action plan.

 Mr Abdul Rasheed, Regional Director, Election Commission of Pakistan, was the chief guest for the second session.  The speakers included Ms Qasira Ismail, former District Member & Secretary Aawaz Women Caucus, Ms Rubina Mukhtar, former MNA (PML-N), Khan Asif Khan, Political and Social Activist (PPPP), Ms Rukhsana Bhatti Advocate, Central General Secretary, PTI’s Women Wing, and Mr Muhammad Saleem, District Officer, Election Commission of Pakistan.

Ms Qasira Ismail said that women caucus will create an enabling environment for the inclusion of women into political processes.  She said that women cuscus should build the pressure on all political parties to highlight the women development agenda in their political parties’ manifestos.
Ms Rukhsana Bhatti Advocate said that all political parties and contesting candidates should announce their overall development programme.  Ms Rubina Mukhtar said that political parties must commit to inclusion of 33% women in their general membership, as well as 33% representation of women in the decision-making bodies e.g. central and provincial executive committees, parliamentary boards etc and women within its ranks must be appointed in ECP.

 

(R-L)  Ms Qasira Ismail, Ms Rukhsana Bhatti Advocate, Khan  Asif Khan Mr Abdul Rasheed, Ms Rubina Mukhtar.

 

Ms Rukhsana Bhatti Advocate delivering her presentation.

     
   
A view of the event.