Editorial
There's hidden sweetness in the stomach's emptiness. We are lutes, no more, no less. If the sound box is stuffed full of anything, no music. If the brain and belly are burning clean with fasting, every moment a new song comes out of the fire."
                                       ---Jalaluddin Rumi on fasting during Ramadan

Such are the gratifications of Ramadan that when embraced in their true spirit, offer the gift of spiritual contentment and peace. We at WPF are also trying to live up to the true spirit of this blessed month and have not allowed the pace of our activities to slacken. The European Union funded initiative, Rights-driven Institutionalization of Sexual and Reproductive Health in Pakistan has reached a crucial juncture with the SRH e-survey having been launched. Similarly, We Act has also concluded the provincial consultations with regard to National Adolescents Development Policy Framework and is now moving towards finalizing the draft policy framework. And, while Institutional Strengthening and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Education programmes have successfully concluded Training of Master Trainers in their respective projects, Knowledge Management team has fast tracked the process of designing an online Monitoring and Evaluation (M & E) mechanism.

All this plus our month’s special feature on “Child Brides” and SRHR news from around the globe!
Happy reading!
Editorial Team
Editorial Team:
Areebah Shahid
Saeed-ur-Rehman

Technical Contributors:
Qadeer Baig

Design & Layout:
Kashif Muneer
Aasia Niazi

Important Links
 
WPF,Pak News
 
Provincial Consultation in Peshawar on National Adolescent Development Policy Framework Held
In line with recommendations of “National Policy Forum on Enhancing Adolescent’s Potential in Pakistan”, WPF and Plan Pakistan had decided to go into provincial consultations in order to have the highest amount of support from the social and government sectors to develop a holistic approach towards adolescents’ development and to advocate for required policy reforms.

In this connection, a provincial consultation took place in Peshawar on 19 August, 2009. Peshawar based NGO “Pakistan Village Development Programme (PVDP)”, became local partner to hold this consultation, which was attended by representatives of CSOs, Government and by adolescents.
At the end of the consultative meeting following recommendations were drawn by the participants:
  1. Substance abuse and addiction should be part of the framework having implications on all spheres of an adolescent’s well being.
  2. Health services should be youth friendly and confidential.
  3. Teachers in educational institutes should be trained on adolescent psychology to foster better communication.
  4. Vocational development and skills training should be provided to the adolescents in different setups on nominal charges.
  5. The Government and CSOs should try to guarantee shelter, food and psycho-social counseling during a crisis situation.
  6. The government should impose a “No Adoption” policy during crisis as there are chances of exploitation and bonded labor.
  7. Government needs to establish shelter homes with trained staff under Social Welfare Programme which can be used in a crisis situation.
  8. Close coordination is required as too many organizations are working but seldom collaborate with each other.
  9. Awareness of Policy issues by the stakeholders and adolescents, should be made possible.
  10. Rights should be part of the syllabus.
  11. Adolescents should be motivated to find solutions to problems.
  12. Peer to peer education should be encouraged.

The draft framework will be revised according to the suggestions by the group and will be shared again with them. If time permits consultations in Karachi and Quetta will follow. In September the draft will be shared at the National Forum.
 
 
Life Skills Based Education – A Way to Ensure Quality Education for All
A training of Master Trainers was held from 17th to 19th August 2009 in City Institute of Image Management with 30 male and female trainers with an aim to equip them with knowledge and skills on core Life Skills which include self awareness and empathy, communication and interpersonal skills, critical thinking and creative thinking, decision making and problem solving; and coping with emotions and coping with stress.
The trainers were selected by the City District Education Departments based on their skills, qualifications as well as interest in working on issues of young people. In the first year, the programme will be implemented in 30 public schools with support from 120 teachers who will be trained by the master trainers to run the Life Skills Based Education (LSBE) curriculum.

During the concluding ceremony of the Training of Master Trainers, Mr. Qadeer Baig , Country Representative for World Population Foundation emphasized on the fact that Pakistan is one of the 164 signatories of Dakar Education for All (EFA) which very clearly identifies and states “Life Skills” as a basic learning need for all young people. He also appreciated the efforts of City District Government Karachi (CDGK) in playing their role in initiating efforts at their level to fulfill this commitment. At the ceremony Mr. Ibrahim Kumbhar, Executive District Officer Education also highlighted the needs and issues faced by adolescent girls and boys and importance of providing them with the right information through right sources which include teachers and parents. Mr. Shahid, Director City Institute of Image Management acknowledged the importance of upgrading the knowledge and skills of various segments of the society by regular imparting of training courses.

The trained Master Trainers of the training will work with the District Education Department- Karachi for next 4 years and their major responsibility will include imparting the trainings to teachers to effectively implement the Life Skills Based Education Curriculum with school going girls and boys. In this regard the first round of teachers training will be held in first week of September with 120 teachers of Public School. The participants of the training appreciated the efforts made by WPF and CDGK and emphasized on the need for more trainings focusing on Behaviour Change to help teachers become the living role model for young people.

This effective implementation of the programme with support from City District Government Karachi will certainly contribute in fulfilling Pakistan’s obligations towards international commitment to provide quality education.
 
Training of Trainers on GBV-RH
Under the Gender Based Violence and Reproductive Health (GBV-RH) project WPF organized a 3-day Training of Trainers (ToT) from July 30th -August 1st, 2009 in Islamabad for its partner organizations from 6 districts of the country. The workshop was attended by 18 participants.

This training addressed Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Reproductive Health (RH) as a main theme while simultaneously focusing upon 4 significant supporting pillars of GBV that are early marriages and teenage pregnancies; ill-treatment and torture; honour crimes and institutional violence.

During the workshop participants also reviewed the progress from the last workshop and attempted the first draft of communication, advocacy and mobilization strategy of their organization. At the conclusion of the workshop, Country Representative, WPF distributed the certificates among participants.

A reception was also organized for the participants where members of the National Project Steering Committee of GBV-RH, other representatives of civil society and relevant donors were invited.
 
GBV Partners Visited in Punjab
Country Representative, WPF and Programme Manager Institutional Strengthening visited the 2 districts of Muzaffargarh and D.G Khan in Punjab province from August 21-22, 2009 to review the progress of the GBV-RH project and discuss the approach and methodology of small grant funding by the WPF. During the visit, meetings with relevant district administrations were also held that included meetings with District Coordination Officer (DCO), Executive District Officer (EDO) Health and other government officials.

WPF team was also interviewed by a private TV Channel, Roohi, in their early morning show “Sawiranal” to highlight the role of NGOs in the development of Pakistan. They also shared the initiatives of WPF, particularly with reference to southern Punjab.
 
Rights-driven Institutionalization of Sexual and Reproductive Health in Pakistan-Donor European Union
Project Cycle Management Training Organized for Implementing Partners of RDI of SRH
The “Project Cycle Management Training” was held at WPF office in Islamabad on 10th and 11th August 2009, with the project staff of WPF and Implementing Partners (IPs), Awaz Foundation (Multan) and HANDS (Mitiari) for WPF’s European Union supported initiative, “Rights-driven Institutionalization of Sexual and Reproductive Health in Pakistan”.

The training was aimed at acquainting the Implementing Partners with the various steps involved in the management of the project during the institutionalization phase.


A total of 10 participants took part in the training, who learnt from each other on all components involved in the project including research, advocacy, SRHR Education, communications and project visibility, health system strengthening, human resource management and finance. A 4 member team of the European Union also took part during the second day of the training to discuss the “EU Practical Guidelines” with the participants.

Following outcomes were achieved as a result of the 2-day PCM training:

  • The participants were oriented about the overall project and its management.
  • Understanding among the participants about the project, its targets and expected outcomes was enhanced.
  • The roles and responsibilities of implementing partners and executing agency were clarified.
  • The work-plan for year 2009 was developed and agreed.
 
Project Launch Forums Held in Karachi, Multan and Mitiari
The project launch forums were successfully organized in districts Karachi, Multan and Mitiari in which Heads of targeted public and private schools, educators and Master Trainers participated. It was part of the project component, which includes introducing SRHR Education in various Public and Private Schools of these districts. The objective was to sensitize participants regarding the project and get their willingness for its implementation in local schools. In this regard formal MOUs have already been signed between local Education departments and our Implementing Partners in districts Multan and Mitiari. In district Karachi, WPF has directly signed MOU with the City District Government.
 
E-Survey Launched
Following the successful completion of pilot-test, the web-based survey aimed at assessing the “Status of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Young People in Pakistan” has been launched. The e-questionnaire has been sent to about 1000 Knowledge Bearers, i.e. a select group of professionals dealing with issues of Sexual and Reproductive Health in Pakistan.

The findings of this research will form the basis to advocate for the integration of Life Skills Based Education in national curriculum, promoting youth friendly Health Management Systems and policy reforms and help devise a mechanism to monitor SRHR violations to design preventive interventions.
 
Online M&E System
Knowledge Management team has initiated the process of preparing an online M & E system for Life Skills Based Education (LSBE). The main objectives of this system are to:
  • Improve management of programmes, projects and supporting activities and to ensure optimum use of funds and other resources;
  • Learn from experience so as to improve the relevance, methods and outcomes of programmes;
  • Strengthen the capacity of the participants and partners of the programme;
  • Meet the requirements of donors to see whether their resources are being used effectively, efficiently and for agreed upon objectives; (and)
  • Provide information to enhance advocacy for policies, programmes and resources.
As a first step, KM team is working on the development of Front-End of this system.
 
Expressions
 
Child Marriage in Pakistani Context
By Robina Nawab
Programme Officer HR, Coordination and Partnership Development
In a country like Pakistan the custom of getting girls married at a younger age is very common. Different people have different motives behind this practice. Mostly such marriages are arranged to settle family disputes or as a trade off to get rid of financial burdens such as loans. The annual number of early marriages taking place in Pakistan remains unknown. Though according to Pakistan Demographic Health Survey (PDHS) 2006-7, one out of six women aged between 15-19 years is already married. It is believed most of such early marriages – many occurring in relatively remote rural areas – go unreported. Bride price varies from case to case, with younger girls drawing a larger amount. Families facing acute economic hardships have stated they have "no choice" but to sell off girls to older men, while in many cases the deal is made by a single, almost invariably male member of the family, such as the father or grandfather of the girl, without consulting other family members.

In a study conducted by World Population Foundation, Pakistan a harrowing fact emerged in Balochistan and Sindh areas bordering it where pre-teen girls are married off. Sexual relations take place even when the young girl's body is unable to cope up with them. As a result, physical abuse apart from infertility and shattered mental state are common.

On the other hand, in many situations, young boys were married to older female cousins as the family did not marry outside the clan. This has a profound effect on the psychology of both, the young boy and the older woman. Since conjugal relations were usually not happening at that stage, it is a common practice that the boy goes on to take another younger wife once he is mature. Men saw it as their right to take on more than one wife as it alluded to their masculinity.

This issue in some way or other is violating basic human rights of which Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights are an integral part. Victims of early forced marriages don’t even have the right to take decisions for their own lives ahead. After getting married a girl is taken as a grown up when she is still an adolescent and expectations from her increase considering her a caregiver.

Child or early marriage refers to any marriage of a child younger than 18 years old, according to Article 1 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Pakistan signed in 1990. The U.N. Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), to which Pakistan acceded in 1996, mentions the right to protection from child marriage in Article 16. It states: "The betrothal and the marriage of a child shall have no legal effect, and all necessary action, including legislation, shall be taken…".

In addition, Pakistan’s Muslim Family Law states that, in a marriage, a girl must be at least 16 (age of puberty) and must give her consent. There is a Child Marriage Restraint Act, dating back to 1929, which has never been implemented and remains in the statute books. In March 2004, the Law and Justice Commission came out with a draft amendment to the Pakistan Penal Code seeking to penalise the act of offering or accepting a woman against her free will, or any child in marriage by way of compensation. That amendment was never passed and estimates say that 30 percent of all marriages fall into the category of child marriage.

A girl has complete right to take decisions about choosing her life partner rather than being on the receiving end of decision making. Once, a decision as important as that of marriage is taken without a girl’s consent she becomes vulnerable to losing many of her other rights including those that ensure freedom of expression, protection from all forms of abuse, and the right to be protected from harmful traditional practices. But like other pieces of legislation aimed at protecting the most defenceless members of Pakistani society, the above laws are also rarely enforced.

 
SRHR News
 
Pakistani Prisoners Given the Right to Conjugal Visits
The top Islamic court in Pakistan has ruled that prisoners have a right to conjugal visits in jail. The Federal Shariat Court declared that inmates should either be released temporarily or provided with a private space in which to meet and maintain contact with their spouses or other family members.

Though a win for the sexual rights of prisoners, the ruling was shaped by homophobic understandings of prison sex. The BBC reports that the court’s new order was in response to a petition linking a lack of conjugal sex with drug abuse and homosexual sex.

The 290-page ruling states that a lack of sex has resulted in high levels of drug addiction, sexual abuse of fellow prisoners and other immoral activities. Not only does this ruling link same-sex sexual activity with harmful activities like drug abuse and so-called “immoral” behaviors, but it also denies the possibility that prisoners may consent to same-sex pleasure.

The call for conjugal visits comes alongside an examination of other human rights issues in Pakistan’s prisons. The original petition was submitted in 1992 and also examined issues of prisoner abuse, food quality, powers of prison staff, protection of female prisoners and general living conditions.

Source: www.nation.com/pk
 
UNESCO Calls for Teaching SRH Education to Children of Age 5
A June report from the United Nations Economic, Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) suggests children of all countries and cultures are entitled to sexual and reproductive education beginning at age five.

The report, called International Guidelines on Sexual Education, was released in June in conjunction with the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA), an organization which works for universal access to “reproductive health care.”

In its rationale for creating the guidelines, the UNESCO report said it is “essential to recognize the need and entitlement of all young people to sexuality education.” An appendix backed that claim by pointing to a 2008 report from the International Planned Parenthood Federation that argued governments “are obligated to guarantee sexual rights,” and that “sexuality education is an integral component to human rights.”

The guidelines are designed, according to the report, to be “age-appropriate” and break down the suggested curriculum into four age groups: 5- to 8-year-olds, 9- to 12-year-olds, 12- to 15-year-olds and 15- to 18-year-olds.

UNESCO has 193 member nations around the world, including the United States.

Source: www.cnsnews.com, 25 August 2009
 
 
For more information please contact World Population Foundation (WPF)
Tel: 92-51-211 0539, Fax: 92-51-211 0536, Email: wpf@wpfpak.org URL: www.wpfpak.org