Aurat Foundation

Aurat Foundation
This is the official Logo of this NPO. Link is provided in the source box · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Aurat Foundation
Formation	1986
Founder	Nigar Ahmed; Farida Shaheed
Type	Non-governmental organization
Headquarters	Islamabad, Pakistan
Location	Pakistan
Region served	Pakistan
Language	Urdu; English

Aurat Foundation Aurat Foundation is a Pakistani non-governmental organization focused on women's rights and gender equality. Founded in the mid-1980s, the organization has been active in advocacy, legal reform, community mobilization, and research across Pakistan. It has engaged with provincial assemblies, national institutions, international agencies, and civil society networks to influence policy and practice.

History

The organization was established in 1986 by activists including Nigar Ahmed and Farida Shaheed during a period marked by the aftermath of the Zia-ul-Haq era and debates around the Hudood Ordinances and the Hudood Ordinance controversies. Early work intersected with campaigns led by figures such as Asma Jahangir, Hina Jilani, and Benazir Bhutto on issues related to the Constitution of Pakistan and the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy. In the 1990s the group expanded programs in collaboration with organizations like Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Women’s Action Forum, and international partners including UNICEF, UN Women, and the European Union. Through the 2000s and 2010s it responded to events such as floods in Sindh and Punjab and engaged with inquiries stemming from cases like those that drew attention to the Protection of Women (Criminal Laws Amendment) Act, 2006 and the Women Protection Bill. Prominent allies and interlocutors have included activists from Kashmir and rights advocates linked to the International Criminal Court dialogues and South Asian networks such as Women Living Under Muslim Laws.

Mission and Objectives

The stated mission emphasizes promotion of women's empowerment, protection of women's rights, and enhancement of women's political participation. Objectives include legal reform campaigning tied to statutes such as the Electoral Reforms and provincial Domestic Violence legislation, capacity building aligned with frameworks like the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and Sustainable Development Goals advocated by the United Nations. It seeks to influence institutions including the National Assembly of Pakistan, the Senate of Pakistan, provincial legislatures in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh and engagement with bodies like the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan.

Programs and Activities

Programs span legal aid clinics, voter education, research and documentation, and community mobilization. Projects have targeted rural districts such as Gilgit-Baltistan regions and urban centers like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. Activities include training for local councils and union councils affected by the Local Government Ordinance, workshops for political parties including Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), and collaborations with media outlets such as the Dawn (newspaper), The News International, and broadcasters like Pakistan Television Corporation. Research outputs intersect with academic institutions including Quaid-i-Azam University, Lahore University of Management Sciences, and Aga Khan University.

Advocacy and Legal Work

Advocacy has targeted repeal or amendment of discriminatory laws and support for legal instruments such as the Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Act and provincial Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act. Legal assistance has been offered in courts including the Supreme Court of Pakistan and provincial high courts, and the organization has filed petitions and supported litigation alongside entities like Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and lawyers such as Samar Minallah Khan-affiliated counsels. It has campaigned on cases that involved institutions like the Federal Shariat Court and engaged with commissions including the National Commission on the Status of Women.

Organizational Structure

The organization is governed by a board of trustees and maintains provincial offices, field staff, and thematic units for research, legal aid, and advocacy. Leadership has included founders and subsequent directors with links to civil society networks like Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women and South Asia Partnership. It has hosted seminars featuring academics from University of Karachi, activists from Human Rights Watch delegations, and policy dialogues with representatives from the Ministry of Human Rights (Pakistan).

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources have included bilateral donors such as DFID and agencies like GTZ, multilateral partners including UNDP, and philanthropic foundations such as the Ford Foundation and Open Society Foundations. Partnerships extend to local entities like the National Rural Support Programme, international NGOs including Amnesty International and Oxfam, and research collaborations with think tanks such as the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics and Jinnah Institute.

Impact and Criticism

Impact cited includes contributions to legislative change, increased women’s voter turnout in targeted constituencies, and support for survivors through legal aid and shelters. The organization’s research has been cited by parliamentary committees and international bodies such as UN Women and UNDP. Criticism has come from conservative political factions, religious parties such as Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and Jamaat-e-Islami over perceived challenges to traditional norms, and from some civil society actors who questioned donor influence or operational transparency. Debates have involved media outlets including Geo News and legal commentators from Pakistan Bar Council forums.

Category:Non-profit organisations based in Pakistan Category:Women's rights organizations Category:Organizations established in 1986