The Society for the Advancement of Community, Health, Education and Training (SACHET), is implementing a four-month (Jan 2012-April 2012) advocacy project of “Addressing Gender Based Violence and Promoting Women Rights”, Pakistan Today learnt on Saturday.
The SACHET is a right-based and non-profit organization for advocacy-cum-service delivery. It has been working since 1999 with a vision of “Promoting Human Development of the Disadvantaged in Gender Perspectives” through its community-based programmes and multiple projects in thematic areas of health, education, livelihood and trainings.
It is implementing a four-month (Jan 2012-April 2012) advocacy project of “Addressing Gender Based Violence and Promoting Women Rights” under the Gender Equity Programme (GEP) of the Aurat Foundation, with the support of American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The project is being conducted in 10 districts of Punjab, including Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Khushab, Mianwali, Sargodha, Gujrat, Bhakar and Mandi Bahaudin.
The GEP campaigns are envisioned as an opportunity to commemorate the 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV), including the Pakistani Women’s Day and International Women’s Day and symbolically links theses days to generate widespread recognition of GBV and initiate a coordinated effort towards women’s emancipation and empowerment. In this context, SACHET organised a number of activities, including a poster and speech competition in the Hassan Abdal Tehsil, poster competition at the Sarai Alamgir Tehsil and a seminar at the Zamzama Restaurant, Attock Cantt.
During the event in the Hassan Abdal Tehsil, students were briefed about different forms of GBV. The students actively participated by delivering speeches and creating posters on the issue. A pledge against dowry-related violence was accepted and signed by 76 participants.
The poster competition against GBV, in the Sarai Alamgir Tehsil, was held at the Government College for Women. 50 students and teachers attended the activity, while 44 posters were created. The students also signed the pledge against dowry violence. The seminar at the Zamzama Restaurant in Attock was attended by teachers, religious leaders, community members and representatives from the governmental and non-governmental organisations.
During the event, the participants were briefed about different forms of GBV through presentations, documentary screening and interactive sessions. A pledge on dowry violence was signed by the participants. Attock Health executive district officer (EDO) graced the occasion as the chief guest.
