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Success Stories
Women Getting Legal Justice
Jamila Bashir is an active member of WWHL. Her daughter, Yasmeen Ikram the vigorous member of WWHL, in 2004 was raped & murdered by her neighbor. The FIR was registered by WWHL and the organization built pressure for quick investigation and arrest of accused. WWHL provided legal support to pursue this case.
Finally the efforts of WWHL came to end and on May 25, 2010 Trial Court punished the accused for murder of Yasmeen, hang till death, and also made him liable to pay compensation of Rs. 100,000/ to the legal heirs of the deceased. Jamila Bashir
Youth Ready to Take the Lead
My name is Tabassum Rehmat. I am the member of PYGs group, Badami Bagh which is formed by WWHL. This group is also very active in kot lakhpat and shahdara. By joining this group I realized the fact that the youths’ role in leadership is very important and also it is the need of time, because it can lead the youth of area in a positive direction.
I am a computer learner in the center established by WWHL and I attended a leadership training organized by WWHL, in which I got awareness on the importance of identity cards. At the spot I decided to make my ID card. Very next day, when mobile van visited our area, I mobilized to all my friends and this way I and my friends get our ID cards. Being a youth I feel that it is our responsibility to participate positively in community development initiatives. Tabassum Rehmat
Children Getting Awareness About Their Rights
Iqra Ilays, 13 years old, is the student of 8th class in Shahdara. She shared that; in leadership training, organized by WWHL, she learned communication skills, expression through arts activities and other qualities. In this training one session was on child sexual abuse, which was the new thing for me. To address this issue, the resource person shared some animations on sexual abuse and discussed the preventive methods with children. In a group work I also prepared a chart on this issue with pictures and cards after long discussions.
She said that being a child we are facing different types of harassment in our daily lives. After the training I shared this information with my mother, friends and cousins. I would also request to WWHL to share the Documentary on child sexual abuse at UC level on World Child Day to educate more and more people on the issue including children, teachers and parents in our area. Iqra Ilays
Turning Male-Dominated Union Council into a Women-Friendly Place
“I have turned a male-dominated Union Council office into a women-friendly place where they come with their issues and never leave the office without a solution.
Being a lady councilor of Union Council 30, I had the chance to attend several workshops and meetings on local government system and women political participation organized by the Actionaid and WWHL.
This exercise empowered me to take my rights back snatched by the male nazims, secretaries and the councilors in the UC office. Now, I sit in the UC office daily and deals with the violence against women, divorce and other legal issues.” Safia Manzoor
Komal Challenging Social Barriers: Komal Naz
Komal Naz (17) is a farmer and brick kiln worker. She had the opportunity to study in Adult Literacy Center, Ratti Pery Shahdara. She says, “I work in wheat fields and harvest the crop with other women. I wanted to study since my childhood, but my parents and elder brothers did not allow me to go to a school.
I joined the literacy centre and studied there for two years. And now, I have got admission in a school in 6th grade. I engage myself in the informal work by peeling off dry fruit nuts after attending my class in the school. Ten other girls from my area have also joined the literacy centre. I challenged the social barriers, and now moving ahead in life to become a doctor.” Komal Naz
Women Solving Women Issues
Asia Afzal is the General Secretary of Punjab Home-Based Aurat Workers Union (HBAWU). She says “Shazia (23) lives in our locality. Her in-laws sent her to her parents’ home just before the birth of her first child. She wanted to go back to her home, but her husband and in-laws didn’t allow her. The representatives of HBAWU called a meeting and sent a written notice to the Shazia’s in-laws. We also tried for a lawyer to take up the matter. They, however, came to our place at our notice, ended up the quarrel between the two families and took Shazia and her child back to her home.” Asia Afzal
Women Getting Legal Rights Awareness
“My name is Najma Jhangeer, and I live in Badami Bagh. I am a member of the Women Activists Group. I have been attending the awareness-raising sessions organized by the WWHL for the last one year. But, this exposure visit to the Women Centre practically helped me after I took my case against my in-laws to the Women Centre. My husband died four years ago. After his death, I gave up all the authorities and ownership of land in favor of my father in-law considering him the elder of the family. But after some days, my in-laws asked me to leave my children with them. They tried to kick me out of the house. Now my case is with the Women Centre, and they will send a notification to my father in-law. Let’s see what happens. I don’t want anything back from him. I just want them to let me live in my home with my children.” Najma Jahangir
Knowledge Torch Passed On
“Many of the people have been saved from the HIV/AIDS after I visited the areas and raised awareness about this issue. During my visit to district Okara, I came to know about the terrible fact that all the residents of a Mohalla (colony) were HIV-positive due to rampant use of unsterilized syringes.
As I had got the training on HIV/AIDS organized by Actionaid and WWHL, I called a meeting and imparted awareness to the people about this disease which helped prevent them from the disease”, said Kaneez Mahboob from Badami Bagh. Kaniz Mehboob
Choice Marriage
“I broke a customary barrier in my family”, said Nasreen (16) from Shahdara. Actionaid and WWHL organized several awareness-raising sessions on women rights, sexual abuse and reproductive health which helped me to recognize myself and my rights.
My sister wanted to marry a man of her choice, but my family and the societal pressures were the big hurdles in her way. I held several discussions and had hard and hectic negotiations with my parents and relatives to convince them over the issue. The change, I felt is not only changing my life but others’ also.” Nasreen
Mobilizing Community
Iqra Bano, a 9-year old Class-3 student, is the resident of Shahdhra. One of her neighbors attempted to rape her. She received minor injuries and experienced a severe psychological shock. Her poor parents wanted to get register a case with the police, but the accused and the local community pressured them for a compromise.
The parents approached the WWHL through its local unit for the legal help. WWHL provided them a lawyer to file and pursue the case in the court. Iqra was also provided medical help in terms of psychological therapy. At the same time, WWHL held a meeting with the community to play their positive role in her case. After this intervention, the community members started supporting Iqra and her parents. WWHL received threats from the accused for supporting the Iqra’s parents but it remained steadfast. As a result, the accused was arrested and sent to jail. The case is still under adjudication. Iqra is all right and goes to school.
Iqra’s mother Ishrat Bibi, is now WWHL member. She has set up a unit of the organization in her area. She mobilized the other women to become members of the WWHL. As a result, 20 home-based workers joined WWHL.
Iqra Bano
Say yes to education
Tasneem Farooq (32) is a housewife and one of the 26 learners in the WWHL Literacy Center, Toba Tek Singh. Though she did not attend any school in her life, but always wanted to get education. She was excited after hearing the news about the establishment of WWHL literacy center in the area.
She got admission in the center. Her husband, however, opposed her decision. She argued with him but in vain. The situation got worsened and the husband thrashed her badly and sent her books back to the center. Tasneem refused to give in, and tried repeatedly to convince her husband. At last, he allowed her to attend the center.
Tasneem, mother of two, is now a regular learner. After getting basic literacy skills, Tasneem wants to help her children in their school homework. She also wants to read newspapers to keep herself update. To her, WWHL literacy center is a rare opportunity for the women of the area to get education.
Tasneem Farooq
United We Stand
“Anayat Bibi is a factory worker and incharge of the WWHL Uhanabad unit. She has been actively involved in various organizational activities. She also participated in several training workshops on the trade union awareness and their formation and the workers rights. In May 2003, she was sacked along with ten other women from the factory job without any notice by the owner. The management refused to pay the arrears. Anayat Bibi preferred a struggle over silence. She organized the sacked women and formed an action committee. She tried to resolve the matter through dialogue, but the factory management did not take her seriously, and refused to reinstate them. Realizing the situation, the action committee, led by Anayat Bibi, staged a sit-in in front of the factory and forced the management to pay the arrears to all the sacked workers." Anayat Bibi
Struggle Goes On
"On May Day, 2003, a rally organized by the WWHL was passing through Egerton Road. It was for the first time that Shehnaz saw so many women marching and raising slogans. She was very much impressed by the slogans-raising women. She contacted WWHL office through a friend and decided to involve herself in the WWHL activities. With the passage of time, she became regular visitor of the WWHL office and attended different training workshops on the working women issues and trade union organizations. She was motivated much to fight for the legal rights. Shehnaz was working as purchase in-charge in Longman factory. The factory management felt threatened from Shahnaz’s renewed activism. On April 2004, they sacked her without giving any notice or reason. Shehnaz approached the WWHL for legal help. WWHL provided Shehnaz services of a lawyer to file and pursue the case in the labor court. She is determined to continue her struggle and to fight for her rights." Shehnaz
Razia…A Rising Political Activist
"Razia Ansari is the incharge of WWHL unit, Sikandria Colony and vice chairperson of the organization. Being a member of the team, she has been active in organizing the women. Sensing high degree of social activism in Razia, the WWHL involved her intensely in the training workshops on political education and engaged her in several political activities. With the passage of time, Razia’s political skills got polished. She contested local bodies’ elections in 2001 and 2005 and was twice elected lady councilor with a high margin. The WWHL fully supported her during the election campaign. She is very vocal, regularly attends union council sessions and bravely defends the rights of women of her area." Razia Ansari
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