Organisations working on Gender Based Violence and Reproductive Health (GBV-RH) Nationally, Regionally and Internationally

• INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL NGOs OPERATING IN PAKISTAN
• REGIONAL NGOs
• INTERNATIONAL NGOs
• INTERNATIONAL GROUPS AND NETWORKS

INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL NGOs OPERATING IN PAKISTAN

Aahung

Aahung is a Karachi based NGO that has been working to improve the sexual health of men, women and adolescents since 1995. They advocate for an enabling environment where every individual’s sexual rights are respected, protected and fulfilled as an inalienable human right.
Website: www.aahung.org

Aurat Foundation

Aurat Foundation was established in 1986 and since than has been working for women’s empowerment and citizens’ participation in governance for creating a socially just, democratic and humane society. Its Head Office is in Islamabad, and four regional offices in the provincial capitals (Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta). Further, AF has a countrywide network of voluntary citizens’ groups and individual activists.
Website: www.af.org.pk

Bedari

Bedari is a national level non governmental voluntary development organization in Pakistan working with women and girls for the promotion and protection of their human rights. It started its activities around awareness raising and self growth in 1991 with a land mark community conference on Violence against women and eventually setting up of Pakistan’s first crisis centre. It has developed expertise on issues of gender empowerment, addressing violence and abuse against women and girls and processes of attitudinal change.
Website: www.bedari.org.pk

Marie Stopes Society (MSS)

It was registered in 1990 as a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) working to provide choices in Reproductive Healthcare and helping to alleviate the root cause of many of the socio-economic problems in Pakistan. Beginning with one center in 1992, today MSS has expanded to more than 100 information and service delivery centers across the four provinces of Pakistan.
Website: www.mariestopespk.org

Population Council Pakistan

The Population Council, which has worked in Pakistan since 1957, established an office in Islamabad in 1991, initially to serve as headquarters for the USAID-funded Asia and Near East operations research and technical assistance project. Today, the Council contributes high-quality research to inform policy dialogue. It is regarded as a premier social science and public health research organization and an influential development partner, working closely with the ministries of population welfare and health, as well as with nongovernmental organizations.
Website: www.popcouncil.org/asia/pakistan.html

HRCP

HRCP is an independent, voluntary, non-profit organization that it is committed to act with impartiality and objectivity in all matters. It has established a leading role in providing a highly informed and independent voice in the struggle for human rights and democratic development in Pakistan.
Website: www.hrcp.cjb.net

Rahnuma

Rahnuma started serving poor and marginalized people of Pakistan as the Family Planning Association of Pakistan (FPAP) way back in 1953, as one of the pioneers in providing family planning services and advocating for the small family norm. Now the organization has the biggest infrastructure by an NGO in Pakistan, which consists of the Family Welfare Centers, Family Health Hospitals, Focus Area Programs and a wide network of referrals from the private practitioners. Rahuma - FPAP has also pioneered in the concepts of social marketing of contraceptives, family welfare centers and reproductive health services.
Website: www.fpapak.org

Rozan

Rozan is an Islamabad based NGO working on issues related to emotional and psychological health, gender, violence against women and children, and the psychological and reproductive health of adolescents. Their mission is to work in collaboration with women, youth and children, in order to build a society that is self-aware, violence free, and accepting of itself and others.
Website: www.rozan.org

SACHET

SACHET is registered in Islamabad under the voluntary social welfare agencies, registration and control ordinance, 1961. It is a multi-dimensional, forward looking; gender sensitive and environmental friendly welfare cum development oriented organization.
Website: www.sachet.org.pk

Sahil

Sahil was established in 1996 as an NGO, to ensure the protection of children. It is the only organization in Pakistan that works exclusively on the issue of child sexual abuse and exploitation. Sahil also works with the government regarding child legislation issues.
Website: www.sahil.org

Shirkat Gah

Shirkat Gah is operating in Pakistan for more than 30 years. It has been working for women’s empowerment by increasing their access to information, resources, skills and decision making, and helped to bring about positive changes to policies, laws, and practices.
Website: www.shirkatgah.org

Uks

Uks was formerly inaugurated in December 1997. It is a research, resource and publication centre dedicated to the cause of gender equality and women's development. They are an advocacy and rights-based group seeking to raise awareness and assist implementation of their goals and ideals. The Center focuses on the women-media relationship.
Website: www.uksresearch.com

War Against Rape (WAR)

War Against Rape (WAR) was established by a group of highly motivated volunteers and functioned as a pressure group working to ‘break the silence’ surrounding the issue of rape. It is a group of committed women and men dedicated to building a sensitized society free from gender-based oppression, discrimination, exploitation and violence. WAR aims to raise awareness about the issues of sexual violence and rape; help the survivors legally, psychologically and medically; punish the perpetrators and improve the laws relating to rape and other forms of sexual abuse and violence.
Website: www.war.org.pk

INGOs

Oxfam Pakistan

International is a confederation of 13 like-minded organizations working together and with partners and allies around the world to bring about lasting change. They work directly with communities and seek to influence the powerful to ensure that poor people can improve their lives and livelihoods and have a say in decisions that affect them. Oxfam work with people living in poverty, strive them to exercise their human rights, assert their dignity as full citizens and take control of their lives.
In Pakistan, Oxfam’s focus is on education, health, tackling violence against women, and emergency relief.
Website: www.oxfam.org.uk/oxfam_in_action/where_we_work/pakistan.html Oxfam

UNIFEM PAKISTAN

UNIFEM Pakistan provides its technical expertise in gender equality and women empowerment to strengthen the effectiveness, coordination and quality of outputs of the UN mission on gender equality. With its links with the global women’s movement and the re-establishment of a programme office in Pakistan, UNIFEM is uniquely positioned to support initiatives of the government leading towards a full realization of gender equality commitments in line with the National and International gender equality and human rights commitments such as the Beijing Platform for Action, CEDAW, Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals.
Website: www.unifem.org.pk

UNHCR Pakistan

The history of UNHCR in Pakistan has been closely related to the Afghan refugees in the country. The first office in Pakistan was established in 1980 to assist and protect a large number of Afghans fleeing their country in the wake of the 1979 Soviet invasion.
Since then, the Afghans have been by far the largest group assisted by UNHCR in Pakistan. Only in recent years have asylum seekers from other countries started arriving in Pakistan.
Website: www.unhcr.org.pk

UNFPA PAKISTAN

UNFPA assistance to Pakistan began in 1970. Its support contributed to enhancing the capacity of medical and health care providers of the Government and NGOs to deliver family planning services and the provision and management of contraceptive commodities. Twelve regional training institutes were, therefore, established throughout the country to deliver basic technical training courses to a cadre of Family Welfare Workers who were to form the core staff to deliver family planning services to the population.
Website: www.unfpa.org.pk

White Ribbon Campaign Pakistan

White Ribbon Campaign Pakistan (WRCP) was initiated in July 2006 by Women's Empowerment Group - WEG and Vision 2015 with a massive task of involving men to reduce violation of women's rights. It relies on volunteer support and financial contributions from individuals and organizations.
Website: www.whiteribbon.org.pk

REGIONAL NGOs

Asian and Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence

The Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence is a national network of advocates; community members; professionals from health, mental health, law, education, and social services; scholars; researchers; and activities from public policy, community organizations, youth programs, women’s groups, and other social justice organizations. They serve as a forum for, and clearing house on information, research, resources and critical issues about violence against women in Asian & Pacific Islander communities.
Website: www.apiahf.org

Swadhina

Swadhina (self-reliant) was organized as a civil society with the prime objective of empowerment of women for self-reliance by a group of youth. They work primarily for the tribal and backward women; it is presently active, through 52 village units, with membership strength of about 1260 women. Their basic aim is the establishment of socio-economically self-reliant society based on gender justice, non-violence and communal harmony.
Website: www.swadhina.org.in

TARSHI – Talking About Reproductive and Sexual Health Issues

TASRHI works towards expanding sexual and reproductive choices in people’s lives in an effort to enable them to enjoy lives of dignity, freedom from fear, infection and reproductive and sexual health problems. It is a registered NGO based in New Delhi. It was founded in 1996, and runs a helpline, conducts trainings and institutes, develops publications, participates in public awareness and education initiatives, and provides technical support for advocacy initiatives.
Website: www.tarshi.net

WOREC- Nepal

Women’s Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC) was established in 1991. It works with partnership with grassroots people in order to resolve the major socio-economic, cultural and human rights injustices prevalent in Nepal in order to work towards the attainment of social justice and sustainable livelihood at the community level. Its aim is to play an active role as a national NGO engaged in the prevention of trafficking in women and promotion of women’s rights.
Website: www.worecnepal.org

INTERNATIONAL NGOs

Association for Women’s Rights in Development – AWID

AWID is an international, multi-generated, feminist, creative, future-oriented membership organization committed to achieving gender equality, sustainable development and women’s human rights.
Website: www.awid.org

Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI), USA

The Guttmacher Institute advances sexual and reproductive health worldwide through an interrelated program of social science research, public education and policy analysis.
Website: www.guttmacher.org

Amnesty International

Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all. They have more than 2.2 million members and subscribers in more than 150 countries and regions and they coordinate this support to act for justice on a wide range of issues.
Website: www.amnesty.org

Center for Health and Gender Equity - CHANGE

CHANGE is a U.S based nongovernmental organization whose mission is to ensure that U.S international policies and programs promote sexual and reproductive health within a human rights framework of women and girls worldwide. It monitors the impact of U.S. policies and programs overseas, and advocates for effective, evidence based policies and increased funding for critical HIV/AIDS, reproductive health and family planning programs.
Website: www.genderhealth.org

End Violence Against Women (ENDAW)

They are unprecedented coalition of individuals and organizations who put up pressure on Government, public bodies and others to take concerted action to end violence against women. They are activists, survivors, academics and service providers. Their vision is of a society where women and girls can live their lives free from violence and the threat of violence.
Website: http://www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/index.php

FEMNET-African Women’s Development & Communication Network

The African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) was set up in 1988 to share experiences, information and strategies among African women's non-governmental organizations (NGOs) through advocacy, training and communications so as to advance African women's development, equality and other human rights.

FEMNET aims to strengthen the role and contribution of African NGOs focusing on women's development, equality and other human rights. It also aims to provide a channel through which these NGOs can reach one another and share experiences, information and strategies to as to improve their work on African women's development, equality and other human rights.
Website: www.femnet.or.ke

HAR-Hope After Rape

Hope After Rape (HAR) is a voluntary women's Non-governmental Organization based in Uganda. Hope After Rape was formed in 1994 as a result of concern about the increasing number of sexual abuse of children and women as well as other forms of violence.
Website: www.har.interconnection.org

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

HRW is one of the world’s leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights. They focus international attention to the human rights being violated, they give voice to oppressed and hold oppressors accountable for their crimes. It has been working since the past 30 years and it has worked to lay legal and moral groundwork for deep-tooted change and has fought to bring greater justice and security to people around the world.
Website: www.hrw.org

International Rescue Committee (IRC)

IRC is a global network of first responders, humanitarian relief workers, healthcare providers, educators, community leaders, activists, and volunteers. They provide access to safety, sanctuary and sustainable change for millions of people whose lives have been shattered by violence and oppression.
Website: www.theirc.org

International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development

It is a non-partisan organization with an international mandate. It was created by Canada’s Parliament in 1988 to encourage and support the universal values of human rights and the promotion of democratic institutions and practices around the world.
Website: www.ichrdd.ca/site

Ipas-Protecting Women’s Health, Advancing Women’s Reproductive Rights

Ipas is an international organization that works around the world to increase women's ability to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights, and to reduce abortion-related deaths and injuries. We believe that women everywhere must have the opportunity to determine their futures, care for their families and manage their fertility.
Website: www.ipas.org

UN-INSTRAW

UN-INSTRAW is the leading United Nations Institute devoted to research, training and knowledge management in partnership with governments, the United Nations System, civil society and academia to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment. Their main aim is to develop training programmes that contribute to the empowerment of women and the achievement of gender equality worldwide.
Website: www.un-instraw.org

USAID-Women in Development

USAID is an independent agency that provides economic, development and humanitarian assistance around the world in support of the foreign policy goals of the United States.
Website: www.usaid.gov/

WHO–Gender Based Violence

WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.
Website: www.who.int

INTERNATIONAL GROUPS AND NETWORKS

Gender-Based Violence Network

They are a group of national and international humanitarian aid staff and managers who are working to address violence against women and children in humanitarian emergency situations. Their goal is to provide resources for professional development and to strengthen the global capacity to prevent and respond to GBV in relief settings.
Website: www.gbvnetwork.org

GBV Prevention Network

The GBV prevention Network is a dynamic group of activist and practitioners committed to preventing gender-based violence in the Horn, East and Southern Africa. They are over 220 members, coming from 24 different countries that are committed to and are working toward a world free of gender based violence.
Website: www.preventgbvafrica.org

Interagency Gender Working Group

IGWG is a network of nongovernmental organizations, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), cooperating agencies, and the Bureau for Global Health of USAID. Its goal is to foster sustainable development and improve health and HIV/AIDS outcomes.
Website: www.igwg.org

Interagency Youth Working Group

IYWG a network of nongovernmental agencies, donors, and cooperating agencies, was formed in 2006, with the mission to provide global technical leadership to advance the reproductive health and HIV/AIDS outcomes of young people ages 10-24 in developing countries.
Website: www.infoforhealth.org/youthwg

Men Engage–boys and men for gender equality

MenEngage is a global alliance of NGOs and UN agencies that seek to engage boys and men to achieve gender equality. The Alliance came together in 2004 with the general goal of working in partnership to promote the engagement of men and boys in achieving gender equality, promoting health and reducing violence at the global level, including questioning the structural barriers to achieving gender equality.
Website: www.menengage.org

Reproductive Health Response in Conflict Consortium (RHRC)

RHRC consists of seven members: American Refugee Committee (ARC), CARE, Columbia University, International Rescue Committee (IRC), JSI Research and Training Institute (JSI), Marie Stopes International and Women’s Refugee Commission.
Website: www.rhrc.org

SVRI Coordinating Group and Secretariat

SVRI builds on the experience of the WHO Multi-country study on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence against Women and on the other initiatives of the Global Forum for Health Research. The SVRI aims to promote research on sexual violence and generate empirical data that ensures sexual violence is recognized as a priority public health problem.
Website: www.svri.org

South African Gender-based Violence and Health Initiative

SAGBVHI is a national, specialist partnership of organizations and individuals working on gender based violence and health issues. SAGBVHI aims to build the health sector’s capacity to respond sensitively, appropriately and effectively and to gender based violence.
Website: www.mrc.ac.za

White Ribbon Campaign

The White Ribbon Campaign (WRC) is the largest effort in the world of men working to end violence against women (VAW). In over fifty-five countries, campaigns are led by both men and women, even though the focus is on educating men and boys. In some countries it is a general public education effort focused on ending violence against women.
Website: www.whiteribbon.ca/

Women Won’t Wait

Women won’t wait is an international coalition of organizations and networks from the global South and North. They are committed to women’s health and human rights in the struggle to address HIV and AIDS and end all forms of violence against women and girls. It seeks to speed up effective responses to the linkages of violence against all women and girls and the spread of HIV.
Website: www.womenwontwait.org