Category: Activities

Office of Women Parliamentary Caucus has been established in Sindh Assembly

After four years the office of Women Parliamentary Caucus has been established in Sindh Assembly with support of SPO, Trcoaire and Australian Government The Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC), a high-level parliamentary body formed on February 25, 2014 to enhance the role of women Members’ of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh for promoting social, economic and political empowerment of women of Sindh through legislation and oversight, got well equipped office to play its required legal role under the project “ Policy Advocacy and Research to Strengthen Implementation of Pro-Women Legislation and GBV Response Services in Sindh” implemented by SPO and supported by  Trociare and the Australian Government. Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) organized the inauguration ceremony of office establishment of WPC with the support of Women Parliamentary Caucus members on 9th November 2017, in Sindh Assembly by providing necessary office furniture and fixture like computers, multimedia, chairs, tables, internet devices, scanner, printer, ACs and other items proposed by the patron and convener of the WPC. Besides this, the SPO also deployed team of four research associates with the support of Subai Project to support members of the women parliamentary body in research, documentation and preparing resolutions.

Effective Role of Monitoring Committees to Restrain Early Child Marriages in Sindh

A one day dialogue on “Effective Role of Monitoring Committees to Restrain Early Child Marriages in Sindh” was held at a Local Hotel in Hyderabad, dialogue was organized by Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) Karachi and Hyderabad regions in collaboration with Women Development Department, Government of Sindh and with the financial support of Trocaire and Australian Government. The event highlighted the role of Monitoring Committees at District level to restrain Early Child Marriages in Sindh Province, by engaging government departments, local civil society networks. Ms. Shamim Mumtaz (Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh) for Social Welfare Department, Government of Sindh and Dr. Javed Jabbar (Ex-Federal Minister) were the key speakers of the event. Large number of Civil Society Network representatives, Law Enforcement departments, Journalists, Lawyers, Writers, members of District Monitoring Committees attended the event. The role of SPO, Government of Sindh, support of Trocaire and Government of Australia were appreciated for highlighting and strengthening Monitoring committees at District Level.

Office of the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women (SCSW) has been established with support of SPO, Trcoaire and Australian Government

Office of the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women (SCSW) has been established at 4th Floor, Old KDA Building Sindh Secretariat Karachi with support of SPO, Trcoaire and Australian Government The office of the SCSW, the legal body of high impetus for promotion of social, economic, political and legal rights of women of Sindh Province has been established with support of the Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) under the project “ Policy Advocacy and Research to Strengthen Implementation of Pro-Women Legislation and GBV Response Services in Sindh” supported by Trócaire under its Gender Programme, funded by the Australian Government, on Wednesday November 29, 2017. Ms. Stacy Greens, First Secretary Development Corporation, speaking at the occesion

Renewing Hope Restoring Lives – The Drug Treatment Centre Mianwali

Aawaz District Forum (ADF) Mainwali with the technical and financial support of Aawaz Voice and Accountability Programme advocated for addressing drug addiction problem by inauguration of a Public Sector Drug Treatment Centre in Mianwali worth PKR 10.5 million public money with the help of District Administration. The ADF members engaged District Administration including Police Department for resolution of drug addiction which has been spreading among youth members. For this, open court was conducted in April 2016. During this open court a strong demand was raised to develop a Drug Treatment Centre. Ultimately due to effective lobbying and follow up by the ADF, the government announced and developed the said treatment center in June 2016. The Youth Engaging in Drug Usage in Mianwali News Coverage of Open Court Coverage of Open Court Renewing Hope, Restoring Lives: The Drug Treatment Centre, Mianwali

Enough!! Together We Can End Violence against Women and Girls

SPO in collaboration with DAI launched a rickshaw campaign titled “Enough!! Together We Can End Violence against Women and Girls” The campaign has been launched aimed at advocating for elimination of violence against women and generate demand for effective implementation of pro-women laws. The campaign featured a rickshaw drive in 13 selected districts of Punjab and KP provinces, in which more than 65 rickshaws were displaying campaign messages and carrying art work. The rickshaw campaign was championed by rickshaw drivers who were acting as advocates for women rights. It is estimated that the campaign delivered messages to more than one hundred thousand direct and 3 hundred thousand indirect persons in 130 Union Councils of 13 Districts of both provinces. 

SPO D.I. Khan signed an MOU with District Election Commissioner, D.I.Khan and Zonal In-charge NADRA to ensure women and excluded group’s participation in electoral process

SPO D.I. Khan signed an MOU with District Election Commissioner, D.I.Khan and Zonal In-charge NADRA to ensure women and excluded group’s participation in electoral process. Some highlights of this MOU are: Through this MOU, all Aagahi Centers established by SPO would be declared Voter Facilitation Centers NADRA will send Mobile Registration Vans (MRVs) to all areas particularly remote areas on the request of SPO to facilitate women voter registration in D.I.Khan NADRA will establish separate Facilitation Counter for SPO’s stakeholders including Aagahi Centers, partner CBO/NGO offices to ensure provision of right to identity and right to vote for women, people with disability, minorities and other excluder groups SPO & Election Commission will jointly make efforts to provide enabling environment to women during general elections 2018 to cast their vote Election Commission of Pakistan and SPO will identify pockets in D.I. Khan Region where women are prohibited from their right to vote. SPO and Election Commission will both ensure women participation in the democratic processes.   Zonal In-charge NADRA is signing MOU SPO, NADRA and Election Commission D.I. Khan MOU signing ceremony group photo SPO BoD Chairperson, members, CE SPO & Election Commission members inaugurating Voter Facilitation Center, Union Council Dhap Shumali, D.I. Khan