International
Empowering Lives
Dastak's Work in Women's and Children's Rights in Pakistan D
astak 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/or emerge more empowered from situations of distress and and recognized their human rights was considered an anticrisis. The most common feedback by women and girls who thesis to family values. Over the years, however, with consistent have used Dastak’s services efforts to keep the mission alive there has was being heard for the first been greater acceptance of shelters and time in their lives and guided legal aid as a strategy to combat violence ‘Dastak has uplifted women and girls in in a way that it allowed them to against women and girls (VAWG) and that it multiple ways’ make more informed choices for is an integral part of human rights and legal themselves. framework for gender-based violence (GBV) protection. Can you tell us a little about how Dastak has empowered women through its Women What impact do you believe Dastak has had on the lives of Protection programs / campaigns? women in Pakistan? Dastak has uplifted women and girls in multiple ways which Restoration of dignity as an essential value of protection in includes provision of legal relief, safe space to live, counselling, Pakistan is perhaps the most significant impact of Dastak’s work. access to education and job opportunities, awareness and Dastak has introduced the concept of ‘protection with dignity’ training. Dastak runs a comprehensive rehabilitation program for and has popularised the human rights-based approach to GBV women and girls which includes introduction to skills courses, art response. The organisation has done pioneering and standard therapy, social integration program and awareness sessions on setting work in the field of legal aid and provision emergency a wide range of topics. shelter. It runs the only shelter in the country which fully complies with the human rights approach and does not restrict the rights It believes in providing help-seekers with an environment where of women and girls in the name of protection, particularly right to they feel comfortable in sharing their stories and gradually dignity and freedom of movement which are often compromised making them feel more informed and confident in their choice by other service providers. by giving them access to accurate and easy to understand information and resources and communicating everything in Dastak has provided physical and legal protection to more than a language they understand best. Respect for consent lies at 10,000 women, girls and children since it was first established. the centre of Dastak’s ethos and that alone is the single most Thousands in addition have benefitted from its training, empowering tool for women and girls. experience and knowledge sharing, and awareness programs. Through litigation and interventions involving multiple forums of What are the main challenges that women in Pakistan face redress, it has had numerable successes which have resulted in accessing justice? in restoring the rights of women and children within family, The barriers and challenges are usually mindsets and workplace and public. inadequate monitoring of service providers which hinder women from accessing help or attaining justice. Law enforcement All those approaching Dastak for support have been treated agencies are seldom proactive or efficient in assisting female with utmost respect and offered a tension and judgement free victims, often becoming abusers themselves leading to environment where they can explore ways to rebuild their lives revictimization of the help-seekers. While there has been a 14 | LegalWomen
