A gathering was held today at a local hotel in Karachi, where Women Parliamentarians discussed the implementation of the Post Shelter Socio-Economic Integration Policy for Darul Amans during an advocacy meeting, reports Kashif Shamim Siddiqui.
The main objectives of the advocacy meeting organized by Rozan in collaboration with the Women Development Department (WDD) were to gain support from female parliamentarians to implement the policy, explore effective strategies, and advocate for it within their political parties and relevant government departments, including securing resources.
Rozan, a non-profit organization, has collaborated with the WDD of Sindh to implement a project titled "Enhancing the quality of life for women who have survived violence after leaving shelters" in two districts of Sindh, namely Hyderabad and Sukkur. To guarantee the project's sustained success and foster a sense of ownership, Rozan and WDD have introduced a "Policy for the Socio-Economic Integration of Women Survivors of Violence after Shelter Stay."
This policy covers eight main areas, including education, skill development, financial independence, legal rights, healthcare, childcare, support services, safe housing, and social networks. It emphasizes various actions such as assessments, interventions, capacity-building, documentation, networking, referrals, and community involvement.
The meeting's goal was to discuss the important issue of helping women survivors of violence who seek refuge at Darul Amans in Sindh to integrate into society after leaving the shelters. It focused on implementing a policy designed to improve social and economic support for these women, with a strong emphasis on their needs.
The meeting began with opening remarks from former Minister of the Women Development Department, Syeda Shehla Raza, who highlighted the stigmatization faced by women survivors of violence in their post-shelter lives and affirmed her commitment to supporting the policy's implementation.
Madeeha Waheed, Program Manager of the Women's Program at Rozan, shared the organization's extensive experience working with Darul Amans and other shelters over the last 25 years. She emphasized the need for a discussion on effective approaches, strategies, and best practices to support the WDD in implementing the policy successfully.
Nuzhat Shirin, Chairperson of the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women, emphasized the comprehensive nature of the policy and the role of the commission in its implementation.
Mangla Sharma, Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Sindh, expressed her commitment to advocating for the policy's implementation.
In conclusion, the implementation of this policy is expected to empower women survivors of violence, promote social and economic justice, and contribute to the mitigation and prevention of gender-based violence in Sindh. The advocacy meeting plays a pivotal role in supporting the Women Development Department's mandate and providing relief to survivors of gender-based violence, enabling them to lead dignified lives.