WAR – Women against Rape in Karachi – for a rape free society
by Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik. In the following my interview with Nabila Qureshey, Director of the GEP Project at War Against Rape (WAR) in Karachi, Pakistan. I talked to her about Islamic, women rights, and about how to struggle for a rape free society. Education and awareness-campaigns are the main arm we have at disposal to reduce and end rape in Muslim societies like Pakistan. We have to change our mentality as society.
Milena Rampoldi: ProMosaik is convinced that
Islam is a women-friendly society, and that in Muslim societies we need
education to Islamic women rights. What do you think about it?
Islam is a women-friendly society, and that in Muslim societies we need
education to Islamic women rights. What do you think about it?
Nabila Qureshey: The most common stereotype associated with Islam is that it is a
religion that suppresses and oppresses women. With all the bad press Islam gets
people have developed the idea that it is somehow a male dominated religion that
considers women as only objects and subjects that are under the control of a
man.
religion that suppresses and oppresses women. With all the bad press Islam gets
people have developed the idea that it is somehow a male dominated religion that
considers women as only objects and subjects that are under the control of a
man.
Islam is a woman friendly religion and was one of the first to
give rights to women, which they never had.
give rights to women, which they never had.
The West thinks that Islam does not allow women to pursue education.
This is a misconception of women in Islam, because the religion preaches
education for all and the pursuit of education is as imperative for a Muslim
woman as it is for a man.
This is a misconception of women in Islam, because the religion preaches
education for all and the pursuit of education is as imperative for a Muslim
woman as it is for a man.
What is rape? Which are the forms of rape?
Rape
is refers to forced sexual intercourse against a person’s will and/or against
his/her consent. It is physically forced or otherwise coerced penetration –
even if slight- of the vulva or anus, using a penis, other body parts or an
object. It is a violent, hostile assault that a person commits to dominate,
overpower and humiliate the aggressed. It is an act of exerting power and
control.
is refers to forced sexual intercourse against a person’s will and/or against
his/her consent. It is physically forced or otherwise coerced penetration –
even if slight- of the vulva or anus, using a penis, other body parts or an
object. It is a violent, hostile assault that a person commits to dominate,
overpower and humiliate the aggressed. It is an act of exerting power and
control.
The
different forms of rape are: Rape, attempted rape, statuary rape, gang-rape,
sexual Assault, sodomy, gang-sodomy, attempt to sodomy, incest, object rape and
cyber rape.
different forms of rape are: Rape, attempted rape, statuary rape, gang-rape,
sexual Assault, sodomy, gang-sodomy, attempt to sodomy, incest, object rape and
cyber rape.
What is the main objective of War Against Rape?
War Against Rape is committed to work towards creating a rape free society. It
endeavors to work on all social, legal, medical and administrative issues that
could help either in the reduction of such acts of violence or support,
facilitate and improve human rights and conditions for survivors.
endeavors to work on all social, legal, medical and administrative issues that
could help either in the reduction of such acts of violence or support,
facilitate and improve human rights and conditions for survivors.
Which are the main problems victims have?
Social
Pressure on survivors and their families, biased, judgmental and discouraging
behaviors of the police and medico-legal officers, lengthy, insensitive and
snail-paced court proceedings and environment, patriarchal mindset of the
society are the major hindrances/deterrents to provide speedy access to justice
to survivors.
Pressure on survivors and their families, biased, judgmental and discouraging
behaviors of the police and medico-legal officers, lengthy, insensitive and
snail-paced court proceedings and environment, patriarchal mindset of the
society are the major hindrances/deterrents to provide speedy access to justice
to survivors.
How to prevent rape?
Primary
prevention through awareness-raising and capacity building at grassroots level
with children, parents and the community in order to change their mindset.
prevention through awareness-raising and capacity building at grassroots level
with children, parents and the community in order to change their mindset.
Secondly,
building capacities through changing behaviors and attitudes by educating key
public and private stakeholders i.e. police, NGOs/CBOs, media, prosecutors,
academicians, health practitioners including MLOs and relevant government
departments while effectively handling and responding to survivors of SGBV.
building capacities through changing behaviors and attitudes by educating key
public and private stakeholders i.e. police, NGOs/CBOs, media, prosecutors,
academicians, health practitioners including MLOs and relevant government
departments while effectively handling and responding to survivors of SGBV.
Secondary
intervention by engaging media and other relevant key stakeholders by effective
implementation of laws to ensure speedy access to justice for survivors.
intervention by engaging media and other relevant key stakeholders by effective
implementation of laws to ensure speedy access to justice for survivors.
Which are the main projects of your organization?
(i)
– ‘Provide a safe haven to gender based violence (GBV) survivors through
institutionalizing 2 shelter homes and facilitating women survivors
empowerment’ through Aurat Foundation’s gender Equity Program (GEP) under USAID
(2016-17).
– ‘Provide a safe haven to gender based violence (GBV) survivors through
institutionalizing 2 shelter homes and facilitating women survivors
empowerment’ through Aurat Foundation’s gender Equity Program (GEP) under USAID
(2016-17).
(ii)
– ‘Access to Justice Program 2015-16’, funded by Mama Cash.
– ‘Access to Justice Program 2015-16’, funded by Mama Cash.
(iii)
– ‘Establishing Psycho-social and Legal Counseling Units in Private Shelters
THROUGH AURAT FOUNDATION’S GENDER EQUITY PROGRAM (GEP) UNDER USAID (2012-13)’
– ‘Establishing Psycho-social and Legal Counseling Units in Private Shelters
THROUGH AURAT FOUNDATION’S GENDER EQUITY PROGRAM (GEP) UNDER USAID (2012-13)’
(iv)
– ‘Rape Survivor Support Program 2009-11’, funded by EU.
– ‘Rape Survivor Support Program 2009-11’, funded by EU.
In
addition to this project, WAR provides Legal Aid, Psycho-Social Counseling,
Awareness Raising and Prevention services, Capacity building, Advocacy and
Lobbying and Research and Publication.
addition to this project, WAR provides Legal Aid, Psycho-Social Counseling,
Awareness Raising and Prevention services, Capacity building, Advocacy and
Lobbying and Research and Publication.
What have you achieved in your long activity, and what is your dream for the
future?
future?
WAR
unequivocally and strongly advocated the complete repeal of the Hudood
(purportedly religious interpretation based) Ordinances that were promulgated
by the dictator General Zia-ul-Haq in 1979. These were heavily stacked against
women especially those subjected to sexual violence, and extended undue
benefits to the perpetrators. WAR has seen success in these all-out advocacy
efforts along with ally NGOs in the form of the Criminal Laws Amendment
(Protection of Women) Act, 2007 which dented the seemingly unmovable Hudood
laws, specifically the one pertaining to rape. Rape was transferred back to the
Pakistan Penal Code instead of being lumped together with ‘adultery’ as was the
case with the Hudood ordinances. WAR has also worked continually to make the
courts more sympathetic to women and advocated for in-camera hearings, where
requested by the survivor, so as to minimize the trauma to victims. Some
survivors prefer to fight their legal battle in open courts; WAR respects their
stand as well.
Furthermore, break the silence, passage of Anti-rape laws (Criminal Laws
Amendment) Bill, 2016 have also been the major achievements of WAR.
unequivocally and strongly advocated the complete repeal of the Hudood
(purportedly religious interpretation based) Ordinances that were promulgated
by the dictator General Zia-ul-Haq in 1979. These were heavily stacked against
women especially those subjected to sexual violence, and extended undue
benefits to the perpetrators. WAR has seen success in these all-out advocacy
efforts along with ally NGOs in the form of the Criminal Laws Amendment
(Protection of Women) Act, 2007 which dented the seemingly unmovable Hudood
laws, specifically the one pertaining to rape. Rape was transferred back to the
Pakistan Penal Code instead of being lumped together with ‘adultery’ as was the
case with the Hudood ordinances. WAR has also worked continually to make the
courts more sympathetic to women and advocated for in-camera hearings, where
requested by the survivor, so as to minimize the trauma to victims. Some
survivors prefer to fight their legal battle in open courts; WAR respects their
stand as well.
Furthermore, break the silence, passage of Anti-rape laws (Criminal Laws
Amendment) Bill, 2016 have also been the major achievements of WAR.
WAR is currently lobbying
for the effective implementation of the Anti-rape Bill, 2016 as well as
adoption of the Medico-legal Policy Brief – Standardized Protocols for the
advance care and protection of the survivors of SGBV.
for the effective implementation of the Anti-rape Bill, 2016 as well as
adoption of the Medico-legal Policy Brief – Standardized Protocols for the
advance care and protection of the survivors of SGBV.
Our dream is to create a society where women,
children and minorities are aware of their rights and are able to exert them
accordingly without fear of persecution from their communities and where the
State takes responsibility of the welfare of its people.
children and minorities are aware of their rights and are able to exert them
accordingly without fear of persecution from their communities and where the
State takes responsibility of the welfare of its people.
