Advancing Gender Equality through Civil Society

The “Advancing Gender Equality through Civil Society” (AGECS) project, part of Foundations for Health and Empowerment (F4HE), is funded by the Aga Khan Foundation, AKRSP, and Global Affairs Canada. It focuses on promoting gender equality and addressing gender-based violence in Gilgit and Chitral. The project involves various stakeholders, including civil society organizations, community leaders, policymakers, law enforcement, and the media. Karakorum Area Development Organization (KADO) ensures a gender-integrated approach.

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Objective

The main objectives of this project are; promoting inclusive governance, raising awareness regarding gender equality, analyzing gender disparities, and building capacity for gender-sensitive advocacy. The progress of this program includes a workshop involving people from all walks of life such as CSO heads, religious leaders, and political representatives, aiming to make spaces more gender-inclusive. Consultation meetings were held with various stakeholders to establish future partnerships and activities.

Progress

Under the AGECS Project, we organized two-day workshops across Districts Hunza, Nagar, Ghizer, and Gilgit, engaging heads of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), religious and tribal leaders, political representatives, opinion makers, and leaders of indigenous institutes. These inclusive gatherings aimed to foster gender inclusivity in social, political, and religious spheres, welcoming both male and female participants.

In parallel, we conducted crucial consultation meetings with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Law Enforcement Agencies, and Policy Makers. These sessions were instrumental in building relationships for future training initiatives and collaborative activities. To enhance trust and awareness, especially among women, we facilitated networking sessions with the police department in Districts Ghizer, Nagar, and Hunza. These sessions focused on familiarizing women with existing systems and frameworks to address Gender-Based Violence (GBV) within legal parameters. Additionally, a significant sensitization workshop was convened with honorable assembly members of Gilgit-Baltistan, reinforcing our commitment to promoting inclusivity and awareness.