Housewives and working women association opens a welfare clinic for poor patients.

The Defence ,Karachi Housewives and Working Women organization (HAWWA) is an organization that has a mandate to help poor women and children. It has adopted an orphanage, a school, a crises centre and has now opened a clinic for poor people and workers in the DHA areas and adjacent slums.This is located in the Darakhshan Market in phase VI, shops number 60 &62.There are highly experienced general practitioners, specialists giving their time to rthis clinic. the medicines are collected in donations and given to the patients. There is only a small token charge for clinic for its upkeep and non-doctor staff salaries, electricity bills. no fee is charged by doctors and medicines are free. Ultrasound facilities at very nominal rates will be provided. Basic testing such as blood sugar will also be available. referral to cost-effective tertiary care centers in Karachi will be arranged for patients requiring such services. All donors please contact President, Hawwa @hwwassociation@gmail.com for medicines donation and other cash and kind donations.

Gender Based Violence, Help in Pakistan Floods :Recognize Issues then plan for action.

The GBV Sub-cluster aims to address both immediate humanitarian service delivery needs and action to prevent and respond to GBV, as well as longer-term development of services, systems, and structures to protect the affected population from GBV, with an emphasis on addressing the needs of women and girls. The Sub-cluster hopes to institutionalize existing GBV mechanisms, enhance them with global good practice, and help take them to scale.

In line with the global mission of the Protection Cluster, the Pakistan GBV Sub-cluster will facilitate a more predictable, accountable and effective protection response to GBV in the Pakistan Floods disaster response.

Gender-based violence is understood to encompass a range of harmful acts which are based on socially-ascribed gender differences. The different forms of GBV that may arise in the current context in Pakistan may include, but are not limited to: 

•       Physical violence: an act of physical violence that is not sexual in nature.  Examples include battering by husbands, mothers-in-law, etc., hitting, slapping, choking, cutting, shoving, burning, shooting or use of any weapons, acid attacks or any other act that results in pain, discomfort or injury.

•       Sexual violence: any form of non-consensual sexual contact.  Examples include rape (including in the context of marriage), sexual exploitation, forced prostitution and inappropriate touching.

•       Denial of resources, opportunities or services: denial of rightful access to economic resources/assets or livelihood opportunities, education, health or other social services. Examples include actors denying a woman humanitarian aid due to her gender, a widow prevented from receiving an inheritance or inheriting her husband’s land, earnings forcibly taken by a husband or other family member, a woman prevented from using contraceptives, a girl prevented from attending school, etc.  

•       Psychological/emotional abuse: infliction of mental or emotional pain or injury. Examples include: threats of physical or sexual violence, intimidation, humiliation, forced isolation, stalking, harassment, unwanted attention, remarks, gestures or written words of a sexual and/or menacing nature, destruction of cherished things, etc.

•       Forced and early marriage

•       Trafficking and abduction of women and girls

•       Harmful traditional practices such as honour killings

U Shahidi : Mapping hospitals in Honduras. Pakistan needs.

http://blog.ushahidi.com/index.php/2010/09/27/honduras-hospitals/

Pakistan needs mapping activity like this urgent.

A Medical Camp at New Jatoi Basic Medical Unit by Offroaders, Pakistan.

An adventure club known as the offroaders organised a medical camp at new Jatoi, Moro where a number of persons are in severe need of medical help as the flood affectees are sitting on bunds nearby. This saw a 1000 patients  in a day and shows how a dedicated , sincere and committed team can help in relief  in a crises situation. Dr Awab's team that is known as the offroader's club which is an adventure club and has a wonderful membership of people with various backgrounds has been doing relief effort with distribution of food and goods at various places to flood affectees, recently. You can access all info here and organise your own team and work based on their experience. Pakistan needs massive health and crises infrastructure. It has limited resources and human , trained resource. Sindh especially needs massive mother and child support in health, social welfare and crises situation. Please form groups and teams and help.
http://teeth.com.pk/blog/2010/09/28/relief-mission-medical-to-moro-dadu

Crises Health And Support Group.

crises-health-and-support-group@googlegroups.com

The act of forgiving oneself creates an awareness that ultimately leads to self healing. If you learn to forgive, you can move on with your life. As most of us may find ourselves in situations and relationships that may remain unresolved and we are not able to enjoy life.
I am availalble at the above mentioned group for consultation and help you with a personal healing program.Please write in confidence.

Fetzer Institute | Resources | Using Science to Prevent Violence | Using Science to Prevent Violence

Fetzer Institute Resources Using Science to Prevent Violence Using Science to Prevent Violence

Health Star

Health Star

Recent Activity.

After many weeks a meeting was held in the seaview CPLC office with the residents and the new SP Clifton incharge of Clifton Town including Gizri Police station. The recent spate of dacoities was discussed by residents. Two cases one of kidnapping of a lady for ransom in which her driver was involved and a recent dacoity by a cook who was employed by the resident fo last 6 years was discussed.
Another case in which a highly influential,powerful Pir's son who took up many guards with guns against seaview residents to harass a person whose car was bieng vandalised by his son and who was just asking the son to refrain was also discussed.
The SP Mr. Tariq was of the view that without proper registeration of servants with the police they cannot very efficiently trace the culprits. He said that out of 6000 forms for registeration in phase 5 of Defence, he did not get any response.The CPLC seaview also has from time to time asked the residents to register the servants and drivers, chowkidars with police in order to curb crime but the response is equally poor. It seems that the residents do lack trust in police and think that they will make it a mechanism for corruption. This issue has to be solved somehow as registeration will definitely curb the activity of crime .The registeration can be done in a non-police forum as with residents' societies, clubs etc so that a record is available which will help in investigation.CPLC can be a focal ,lead group in this activity.
The seaview residents and those inDarakhshan and seafacing phase 6 should contact CPLC, seaview , for registeration. 03335327626,and the persons are available at sea view chowki every evening.
The issue about the threatening attitude of people of influence with their guards and guns to residents should be discussed with police higher ups at a level where they can approach the political government for support against such elements. The right of ordinary citizens to safeguard their property and home without threats to bieng killed by generally feudal, landed, rich and powerful should be safegurded and brought to light by media and human rights organisations.
There should be a provision in the residents society charter to take up this issue with administration and build public pressure against such individuals and groups.
The inability of the police to safeguard and side up with the citizen and remain silent in such cases will only be removed if they know that the societies and people will hold police higher ups accountable.
The cameras in entry and exit points of Defence as was planned has to be installed immediately for monitoring of crime.
Right now the main issue of servants' registeration should be solved as soon as possible.

Meeting Of Support Comittee

A meeting for support group committee took place in April ,in which it was decided to follow the white corolla case by a lawyer, collect the correct information and provide it to public and keep the pressure up on the administration to follow the case legally to its logical conclusion.
The members decided to gather more support amongst parliamentarians in persuance of the issue. The local police officer was however not very cooperative in providing information.

The next meeting will be held after collection of information ,meanwhile see Ms Aisha's report on this issue on http://www.thenews.compk/print1.asp?id=171037

The MNA concerned has provided information that she has met the CCPO and followed the case. A meting with her in detail will be held and information provided to residents.

An introductory meeting of Houswives Group and other women

A meeting is scheduled for the ladies of Defence ,Karachi to introduce them to the group for crises support. As scheduled a presentation by WAR ( war against rape) an organisation working in the field of sexual assault victim's help for the last twenty or so years will be made. The idea is to get the feedback and suggestions from the participants as to how they see the issue of violence against women, spread awareness, create inroads in community so that they find safe places or a listening ear and seek help. The dilemma is that people inspite of having financial means in upper middle and rich populations are not addressing these issues and are not seeking help. These topics bieng taboo many women and children, and their families suffer silently. As our support group aims to provide help and information this first meeting is only the begining. A large residents association has already published our objectives in their current newsletter.

Crises Support Group On Google Groups

I have formed a new group,for support activity. Please visit crises-health-and-support-group on google groups.The group e mail is crises-health-and-support-group@googlegroups.com .
The thread for discussion is open. You can post your questions on e mail and confidential dedicated answers will be given.

AIMS And OBJECTIVES of CRISES SUPPORT CORE GROUP for DEFENCE RESI

http://networkofwomenpakistan.blogspot.com

Violence against women and children

Violence against women and children.

Pakistan has entered 21 st century ,many things have improved and changed for the better. However, the issues of violence against women and children; rape,sexual assault and honor killings remain a dark mark and supposedly unsolvable till such time our political will takes precedence over all prejudices, stigmas, taboos and notions of honor and make us counted in civilized societies and countries of the world.

In Canada, there is avast network of crises centers, support groups, helplines and community services which help victims, survivors and families deal with such situations effectively. Information about such facilities is provided to everyone as a matter of right to information. Resultantly, instead of such cases becoming a burden on resources such a spolice ,the timely and appropriate help is delivered.

In our country we lack the comprehensive services such as crises centers, support groups violent crime referral services and therefore the victim or survivor either goes to police directly and unwillingly or does not seek help at all. This neither helps the society or the state a sincidences of violent crimes only increase if not appropriately checked.The approach towards management of violent crimes is nip in the bud and not a swhen reported only.

Various NGO’s working in this field in Pakistan have already done a lot of research and homework in this field and a re ready for implementing plans and mechanisms for immediate actions. Organisations like War against Rape, are providing services such as legal, counseling and support of survivors, lodging an FIR, getting the medico legal done etc., since the last 20 years. Other NGO’s are also active in policy formulating guidelines ,strategies ,collecting data, social action etc.

As is evident from the recent increase in violent crimes cases in DHA, Clifton ares of Karachi in which the victims are not coming forth for effectve control of crime, it has become apparent that we address this immediately at a community level also.

We have set up a crises support group for DHA residents and wish to inform them that a dedicated core group of contact persons will be available for support and help in any cases of violence including assault, abuse, sexual harassment

,rape and honor. This crises support group will provide alistening ear, initial medical help, information regarding collection of evidence, referral to appropriate hospitals,other help by police, administration ,legal, medico-legal, counseling aspects in cooperation with other organizations working in this field. The families and women and children are assured full confidentiality and support .Not all cases are to reported to the police so their n involvement will only come when necessary.

Last but not least ,there is ample evidence that correct and timely intervention is essential in lessening the effects of trauma.

For further details contact Dr. Meher Zaidi 03132139804