OSLO — Pakistani campaigner for women empowerment Salman Sufi has teamed up with Dia Praxis, an influential Norwegian/Pakistani organisation which has worked extensively with Norwegian MFA, to help victims of forced marriages in Pakistan.
After enacting legislations against Violence against Women in Punjab Pakistan and developing one stop Justice center for Women Survivors of Violence, Public Policy and Gender Reform Specialist Salman Sufi has started work on developing mechanisms to help end Forced Marriages.
Ambassadors of SAARC Countries, respective country organizations working on this issue from SAARC and Norwegian Government officials on Thursday met in Oslo, where Sufi and Dia Praxis formally launched the campaign. Sufi also presented his multi-dimensional strategy given the complex issues surrounding forced marriages.
This initiative will cross national boundaries and help each victim regardless of their nationality. Collaboration with airlines and Embassies to help Victims of trafficking and Forced marriages. #MyLifeMyChoice pic.twitter.com/zdbRDUS8db
— Salman Sufi (@SalmanSufi7) January 17, 2019
This project is not limited to Pakistan but will be for the entire SAARC region. The campaign will include establishment of SAARC wide hotline where a collective database will be maintained of tips and complaints of forced marriages.
Subsequently the blue print of Violence against Women center already established in Punjab Pakistan by Sufi will be made available to SAARC countries for replication as those centers will be also used to rescue victims and provide them with shelter.
A Strategy for Airlines alliance that operate from EU and other countries where expatriates from SAARC reside, will also be established. Whereas, the airlines will be teamed up to provide brochures with helpline numbers in seat pockets and specific codes for victims that are in distress and are being forced to travel. The helping numbers and text codes will be free and victims will be able to use certain codes and text to alert the immigration and custom authorities in SAARC reigon upon arrival.
A plan to establish one such hotline was already in the works in Punjab by the former CM Shehbaz Sharif on Sufi’s proposal. That helpline has now been established privately by Sufi and Dia Praxis.
A massive media campaign is also in the plan where social icons and celebrities will create awareness. Local NGO’s and various organizations working on the issue will also be part of the campaign.
The campaign will start from Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka and will be spread to remaining SAARC bloc subsequently.
