Aawaz dho: The UK’s grassroots minorities empowerment programme.

ISLAMABAD: The UK Government has initiated an expansion of its Aawaz II program into Sindh, aimed at empowering and safeguarding the most vulnerable individuals in Pakistan.

This expansion comes after the success of Aawaz II in Punjab, Islamabad, and KPK, where it has been operational since 2018. The program has established over 1,000 community-led village forums, empowering members to intervene in potential conflicts and address deep-rooted issues like child marriage and domestic violence. Aawaz’s SMS and radio campaigns have reached more than 35 million people, and over 44,000 volunteers have participated in social initiatives.

Aawaz II focuses on supporting individuals from minority communities, assisting over 34,000 people with disabilities in obtaining disability certificates, understanding their rights, and accessing funds. One such individual is Kaneez, who worked tirelessly to support her husband, a gravedigger, despite her own disability. Through Aawaz, she acquired a disability card and social safety nets, and now helps others in her community understand their rights. The UK is now expanding this initiative into Sindh.

There is a pressing need in Pakistan to address issues of exclusion, abuse, and exploitation. The country ranks among the lowest globally in terms of gender equality and the rule of law. Problems such as honor killings, forced religious conversions, and child marriage continue to exist, with 18% of girls married before reaching adulthood.

The Aawaz II expansion in Sindh will engage with communities across five districts. The UK aims to strengthen laws, policies, and data concerning child protection and women’s rights, empower communities to voice their concerns against harmful practices, and prevent conflicts and discriminatory acts such as forced conversions and child marriages. Aawaz II seeks to empower the community, including women, children, youth, religious minorities, and other marginalized groups, giving them a voice in their futures and enabling them to unite against exploitation, discrimination, and intolerance at all levels.

British High Commissioner, Jane Marriott CMG OBE, remarked:

“We are thrilled to expand Aawaz II to Sindh. Addressing inequalities, supporting reforms, and enhancing services for marginalized groups are top priorities for the UK. Aawaz has already achieved great success in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, and Punjab by supporting locally-led initiatives, and I am eager to see its impact in fostering a safer and more inclusive Sindh.”

A crucial aspect of Aawaz II’s efforts in Sindh to strengthen systems is collaboratively led by UNICEF, UNFPA, Care International, and Oxford Policy Management, who work closely with both federal and provincial governments.

To officially launch the program in Sindh, the British High Commissioner held a launch event in Karachi.

Minister for Social Welfare Sindh, Mir Ali Khan Talpur stated:

“We must work together to protect the rights of children and other vulnerable groups. I am committed to fully supporting the Aawaz II program in Sindh.”