Shirkat Gah-Women's Resource Centre

Drivers of Change

Focus area: Strengthening Institutional Response

In Pakistan, as in other countries, domestic violence is deeply rooted in patriarchal norms, compounded by women’s lack of economic and decision making power and supportive mechanisms. Despite strong legislation and commitment from the government, implementation remains weak due to multiple factors including lack of awareness and biased attitudes towards women. High gender inequality in socioeconomic spheres further aggravate women’s situation.

Photo courtesy of Shirkat Gah-Women's Resource Centre

Shirkat Gah’s programme implements a VAW/G prevention programme targeted towards women and girls, duty bearers and the community, with an additional focus on men and boys in four provinces (Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) in Pakistan. By creating a critical mass of community change agents through awareness raising activities, skills training and district level policy dialogues, the project aims to change attitudes towards women’s role in the family and community and empower women to enjoy greater economic control. The project uses a participatory-based approach and include lessons learned and community input from previous interventions as the project evolves. By selecting districts where Shirkat Gah’s presence and relationship with the community are strong, the project builds on goodwill towards Shirkat Gah.