6 minute read
Empowering Lives
Empowering Lives
Dastak's Work in Women's and Children's Rights in Pakistan
Dastak is a leading access to justice centre in Pakistan. It is for women and children either at risk of or facing abuse, violence or exploitation. Ramsha Khan, a legal counsel based in Pakistan, was impressed by Dastak’s mission of building a shelter offering protection and support for women and children without compromising on their fundamental right to liberty and dignity. Through such initiatives survivors are able to rebuild their lives without feeling like they have lost control. To learn more about the organisation, Here Ramsha discusses the work with Saba Shaikh, the Executive Director of Dastak.
What were some of the barriers / challenges you overcame in the process of achieving Dastak's mission?
Resistance by conservative religious forces were perhaps the biggest challenges faced by its Founder Hina Jilani in the process of establishing Dastak. Religious backlash was experienced because such services were misunderstood and not considered an appropriate response to violence against women and children. Any service that gave agency to women and recognized their human rights was considered an antithesis to family values. Over the years, however, with consistent efforts to keep the mission alive there has been greater acceptance of shelters and legal aid as a strategy to combat violence against women and girls (VAWG) and that it is an integral part of human rights and legal framework for gender-based violence (GBV) protection.
What impact do you believe Dastak has had on the lives of women in Pakistan?
Restoration of dignity as an essential value of protection in Pakistan is perhaps the most significant impact of Dastak’s work. Dastak has introduced the concept of ‘protection with dignity’ and has popularised the human rights-based approach to GBV response. The organisation has done pioneering and standard setting work in the field of legal aid and provision emergency shelter. It runs the only shelter in the country which fully complies with the human rights approach and does not restrict the rights of women and girls in the name of protection, particularly right to dignity and freedom of movement which are often compromised by other service providers.
Dastak has provided physical and legal protection to more than 10,000 women, girls and children since it was first established. Thousands in addition have benefitted from its training, experience and knowledge sharing, and awareness programs. Through litigation and interventions involving multiple forums of redress, it has had numerable successes which have resulted in restoring the rights of women and children within family, workplace and public.
All those approaching Dastak for support have been treated with utmost respect and offered a tension and judgement free environment where they can explore ways to rebuild their lives and/or emerge more empowered from situations of distress and crisis. The most common feedback by women and girls who have used Dastak’s services was being heard for the first time in their lives and guided in a way that it allowed them to make more informed choices for themselves.
‘Dastak has uplifted women and girls in multiple ways’
Can you tell us a little about how Dastak has empowered women through its Women Protection programs / campaigns?
Dastak has uplifted women and girls in multiple ways which includes provision of legal relief, safe space to live, counselling, access to education and job opportunities, awareness and training. Dastak runs a comprehensive rehabilitation program for women and girls which includes introduction to skills courses, art therapy, social integration program and awareness sessions on a wide range of topics.
It believes in providing help-seekers with an environment where they feel comfortable in sharing their stories and gradually making them feel more informed and confident in their choice by giving them access to accurate and easy to understand information and resources and communicating everything in a language they understand best. Respect for consent lies at the centre of Dastak’s ethos and that alone is the single most empowering tool for women and girls.
What are the main challenges that women in Pakistan face in accessing justice?
The barriers and challenges are usually mindsets and inadequate monitoring of service providers which hinder women from accessing help or attaining justice. Law enforcement agencies are seldom proactive or efficient in assisting female victims, often becoming abusers themselves leading to revictimization of the help-seekers. While there has been a growth in the establishment of women-centric services within the police, social welfare etc., which often act as first responders for survivors of violence, they still lack the sensitivity and capacity to deal with gender specific abuse or violence and operate without much monitoring and accountability that ensures effective service delivery.
How does Dastak work to address these challenges?
Dastak works in a very open and transparent manner, in accordance with human rights and legal frameworks which gives its credibility as well confidence in the position it takes to address women rights violations. It also believes in the power of collective action and strong networks which allows it to respond to help-seekers in a more holistic way instead of turning them away for not having adequate resources or solutions. Dastak consciously makes an effort to not work in a silos and actively form collaborations with the government and non-government entities to fill the gaps.
‘Dastak has provided physical and legal protection to more than 10,000 women, girls and children ’
Moreover, it routinely carries out awareness and training programs to gradually whittle away hardened mindsets that resist change and bridge the gaps between services and survivors.
What are your plans for the future?
In recent years, Dastak has opened its legal aid program to all women and girls and not those limited to its shelter residents. It hopes to continue this expansion by publicising its services more and would like to use your magazine’s platform to reach out to more people. The organisation also wants to further develop its rehabilitation/economic empowerment program and offer vocational skill training to a wider group of women and girls in the same way as its legal aid program. It is currently designing a suitable rehabilitation program and will then seek partners and grantors accordingly.
How do you think or suggest our community can help in achieving Dastak's mission?
Firstly, help in creating awareness and knowledge on available services such as Dastak, particularly in South Asia.
Inspire women and girls to come forward to speak up and seek justice.
Encourage lawyers to use strategic litigation as a tool to change unjust laws and practices by setting important legal precedents and breathing life into existing laws and policies not adequately implemented or being enforced according to their true spirit. ■
Website: https://dastak.org.pk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dastaktrust/
Ramsha Khan
Legal Counsel
