Supporting Implementation of the Hindus Marriage Act in Sindh
Partner: United States Institute of Peace
Duration: 2023-2024
Overview: Community engagement, legal documentation, capacity-building of UC officials and pandits; with Sindh Human Rights Commission and USIP.
Outcomes:
- Mobile registration drives conducted in 10 remote locations/villages of Umerkot and Tharparkar districts to facilitate identity documentation.
- 284 individuals from Hindu community were reached out to facilitate identity documentation and promote awareness of Sindh Hindus Marriage Amendment Act (SHMAA) 2018.
- Developed recommendations/action points on implementation of SHMAA 2018 to streamline pandits registration and Hindus marriage registration in the pilot districts.
- Successful amendment in NADRA policy to align marriage registration procedures with the SHMAA 2018 at the Local Government level.
- Significant increase in registration of pandits and Hindu marriages in pilot districts as a result of engagement with the Local Government department.
- Training manual on SHMAA 2018 developed for pandits and local government officials.
Learn more about other key initiatives and impact of the project.
Bench Book on Civil Aspect of International Parental Child Abduction (HCCH) 1980
Partner: Bureau for International Narcotics & Law Enforcement (INL), US Embassy, Islamabad
Duration: 2024-2025
Overview: Legal analysis of international and domestic frameworks and step by step guidance for judges for deciding cases under the Convention
Legislative Review of the Foreigners Act 1946 and Pakistani Citizenship Act 1951
Partner: Human Rights Commission Pakistan
Duration: 2023
Overview: Legislative analysis to identify protection gaps for refugees and stateless groups;
Gender Responsive & Trauma Informed Policing in Punjab
Partner: United States Institute of Peace (USIP) & the Bureau for International Narcotics & Law Enforcement (INL)
Duration: 2023
Overview: Gender Roadmap, Survivor-centered curriculum for police and transgender officers, Victim Vulnerability Assessment Framework
Outcomes:
- First ever certification training program on victim support and trauma informed policing launched in collaboration with Punjab Police
- 1,675 female police recruits trained on victim support and trauma informed policing
- 39 transgender police officers trained on victim support and trauma informed policing
- Victim vulnerability assessment framework developed and proposed for Punjab Police
Learn more about other key initiatives and impact of the project.
Protecting Women’s Marriage Rights in Pakistan
Partner: American Bar Association- Rule of Law Initiative & Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL)
Duration: 2021 to 2025
Overview: Awareness campaigns, legal support,policy reforms and training across Punjab, Sindh, ICT, and KP; funded by DRL & ABA ROLI, National Helpline (1413) for women’s marriage-related rights, legal advice, and representation, Bench Book on Muslim Family Laws
Outcomes:
- 390,601 individuals were provided essential knowledge on Nikkahnama and Women’s Marriage Rights through digital platforms
- 2,024 individuals were provided in-depth awareness on Nikkahnama and Women’s Marriage Rights through in person sessions across Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
- 748 women across Pakistan provided legal support and access to justice on marriage rights related matters.
- 167 judges, prosecutors, lawyers, nikkah registrars and union council officials were provided training on Muslim Family Laws and Women’s Marriage Rights.
- 412 parliamentarians, government officials, judges, lawyers, and civil society representatives joined 5 strategic and policy reform convenings.
Learn more about other key initiatives and impact of the project.
Legal Education Support Program
Partner: Arizona State University and funded by the Bureau for International Narcotics & Law Enforcement (INL)
Duration: 2018- 2019
Overview: Support to 7 Law Schools Nationwide,Experiential learning, legal research/writing training, and development of training materials;
Support for Legislative Drafting in Punjab
Partner: US Consulate
Duration: 2019
Overview: Training of 20 MPAs & 15 officials, with a manual and training of judges (with Punjab Judicial Academy.
Extending Constitutional Guarantees to Newly Merged Districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Partner: USIP
Duration: 2019- 2020
Overview: In-depth legal and sociopolitical study on barriers to justice in tribal areas
Outcomes:
- First ever study conducted on the status of constitutional guarantees in the context of the ex-FATA region post the KP-FATA merger.
- Around 122 individuals from ex FATA region, lawyers, government officials, political representatives and office bearers of the tribal bar councils engaged to conduct the study.
External Evaluation of the Drivers of Change Project
Partner: Shirkat Gah & UN Trust Fund to End violence Against Women & Girls (UNTF)
Duration: 2019- 2020
Overview: Fieldwork in 12 villages across 4 provinces with 400+ women & minorities
COVID-19 Impact on Stateless Communities
Partner: Institute of Statelessness and Inclusion under the Covid-19 Emergency Support Fund (CESF)
Duration:2021- 2022
Overview: Groundbreaking research on the lived experiences and legal invisibility of stateless persons during the pandemic
Bench Book on Serious Sexual Violence Crimes in Pakistan
Partner: Arizona State University
Duration: 2020- 2021
Overview: Development of a comprehensive guide for judges and legal professionals; aimed at standardizing legal interpretation and judicial practices in serious sexual violence cases; enhancing victim-centric approaches and promoting more effective adjudication.
Supporting Citizen-Centric Prosecution in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Partner: United States Institute of Peace (USIP)
Duration: 2021- 2022
Overview: Technical support to KP prosecution service for citizen-centric approach; bridged gap between citizens and criminal justice institutions in Pakistan; promoted citizen-centric governance via evidence-based, needs-responsive interventions.
Outcomes:
- Citizen consultation/khuli kachehri model introduced for the first time in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for prosecution service with formal complaint redressal mechanism.
- Gender responsive and citizen-centric performance management framework with key performance indicators developed for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Prosecution Service.
- First ever study on citizen-centric governance in the context of prosecution service conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with concrete recommendation and way forward to strengthen the service delivery in the province.
National Support on Menstrual Hygiene Management in Pakistan
Partner: WaterAid Pakistan funded by Canadian High Commission
Duration: 2020- 2022
Overview:Promoted awareness and education on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM); addressed stigma and misconceptions; advocated for improved access to hygiene facilities and products; included capacity building and policy engagement for national MHM integration.
The Asia Classroom
Partner: Asia Alliance Against Torture(AT3)
Duration: Annually since 2022
Overview: The Asia Classroom (TAC) is a youth focused online course on fundamental human rights, youth-led initiatives and developments in the Asia region. This is a free course which is designed to reflect a diverse set of topics and thematic areas, sharing of real case-studies from the region and focusing on issues of intersectionality, particularly relevant to marginalized and at risk populations in the region.
The Asia Classroom is a flagship initiative of Asia Alliance Against Torture. It is a free virtual platform to bring together youth from across Asia on issues of human rights.
