Strengthening  Democracy & Local Governance in Punjab

The project was started in 2015 in collaboration with NED in 6 union councils in Lahore and Sheikhupura. Since then, the WISE has been working towards deepening democracy at grass roots level and strengthening Local Govt. system in Punjab, with focus on women, capacity building of the elected councilors and local activists, promotion of public accountability and transparency.  Overall WISE strategy is embedded in democratic approach of taking all stakeholders together. But specifically, it has been using two-pronged strategy; a) advocacy with policy makers and legislatures, engagement with mainstream media and civil society through discussions and publication of policy briefs, position papers and research reports on local governance. b) Capacity building of the elected councilors as well as community activists and help amplify community voices through open spaces to talk, discuss and highlight their issues and draw local development agendas.  

Accomplishments:

• 16,000 women were mobilized by creating large scale awareness on local governance through a number of public seminars, awareness walks, training workshops, women conventions, lectures awareness sessions and virtual cafes
• 232 male LG elected representatives, UC secretaries; members of Musalihat-e-Anjuman/Panchayat were trained on LG laws.
• 636 lady councilors were empowered through trainings on democracy, local governance and political participation.
• 12,000 women were provided awareness on local governance through community seminars
• 30-member Lady councilor caucus is formed comprising Lahore & Nankana Sahib
• Two critical analysis on local govt. laws and a training manual was developed
• 2536 participants attended 31 public seminars organized in Lahore & Sheikhupura on Women Political Participation, Democracy and Local Governance.
• 1950 women and girls were mobilized during 16 days of Activism, “National Working Women Day”, “International Women Day”, “International Labor Day and International Youth Day.
• 3,273 participants attended 32 online Sessions and Virtual Cafe organized on different topics including Domestic Violence, Social & Economic Empowerment, Career Counselling, Report Writing, Drop Pakistani Debt – Save the People
• 346 participants attended 14 trainings workshops arranged on the topics of “Safeguarding, ‘Pro-women laws, Community Mobilization, Masculinity, Leadership, Violence against Women, Women Effective Representation & Participation in Politics.
• 684 participants attended 8 women conventions and provincial consultations on Local Governance in Punjab
• 86 participants joined 2 Lectures on “Economic Crisis in Pakistan & Impacts on Women, and Current Political Scenario & Future of democracy in Pakistan”.
• 223 participants joined a Women Cyclothon, and two walks organized by WISE on 16^th days of Activism and Demo on Drop Pakistani Debt – Save the People.
• 13 media forums were organized in collaboration with Urdu “Daily Express” in connection with International Women’s Day, National Women’s Day, International Labor Day, Human Rights Day, Women CNIC & Voter Registration.
• 05 issue-based videos were produced “Let Freedom Ring, International youth Day, Women Participation in Politics: Representation & Leadership, Women & Girls: Bearing the Brunt of Flood in Pakistan and Girls on Wheels.
• 345 participants joined 09 Virtual Café organized on topics ‘Voter Registration’, ‘Gender and Power in Digital Spaces’, ‘Economic Crisis in Pakistan and Impacts on Women’, Human Rights, Fundamental Freedoms’, ‘Child Marriage; Effects on Mental and Physical Health’, International Democracy Day with the theme of Safeguarding Democracy: Empowering the Next Generation, and International Youth Day with the theme of Green Skills for Youth towards a Sustainable World.
• 648 Women and girls were organized through 18 Aurat Akhats (10 Youth Groups and 8 Community-Based Women Groups) at community level in districts in four districts of Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, and Lahore.
• 108 awareness sessions were organized with the members of Aurat Akaths (Women’s Collective) on Leadership, and Community Mobilization, addressing violence against women, raising awareness about measures to prevent sexual harassment in public places, The Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act 2010, Promoting Democracy and Local Government System.
• 10 awareness sessions arranged with different Govt. and private school students on Women CNIC and Voter Registration.
• 03 district level advocacy groups were formed to facilitate women to resolve the issues related Union councils.
• 02 district level women councilor network were formed to facilitate girls and women to importance of CNIC and Voter registration. In which 22 awareness sessions have been held so far. And 660 students, teachers and women were informed in this regard.
• During this period few books were developed, published, and disseminated among the stakeholders and the training participants. Booklet on A Position Paper: Punjab Local Government Act, 2019, “Pro-women Laws”, “Democracy”, “Women in Politics”, “Punjab Local Government Act, 2022”, “The Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act, 2016” “Punjab Local Govt Act, 2022”, “Role of Women in Politics” Women Revolutionary Songs” “Role of helplines in Handling VAW incidents”. Flyers were produced based on the information related to the “16 days of activism”. Two books Tapestry and on their own terms written by Dr. Fouzia Saeed were also rolled out and disseminated among the training participants. Quarterly newsletters were produced and printed.