[Zaheer Abbas Maseed]

In Pakistan, both Government and Civil Society Organizations, including NGOs and INGOs working specifically on VAW and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) reduction/prevention, have been implementing long and short-term programs, built around strategies that were discussed in the video. For instance, the Benazir Income Support Program that the Government has been implementing for over a decade now is built around the strategy of ‘economic and cash transfers’. Under this program, the Government provides each year billions of funds country-wide to the poorest of women like widows, differently-abled or those belonging to an extremely poor household in drought/disaster and some conflict-affected areas as well. In my organization, HEELA Institute for Research and Development, we use a couple of strategies discussed in the video like Edutainment, community mobilization, policy, and structural change (through generating. evidence/ research around VAW/GBV). This strategy we used with policymakers like provincial and federal parliamentarians (MPs) or local government representatives. We use training on gender, masculinities, and attitudinal and behavioral change with service providers like police officials. It depends on the context and the population groups we choose. For instance, with artists, we use edutainment and community mobilization strategies with religious, opinion leaders, and journalists. Currently, we are working on designing an already tested and proven strategy in the United States and some other countries like Iraq and Syria, however, it is yet new and innovative idea in the context of Pakistan. This strategy is particularly designed for preventing gun violence in neighborhoods and cities having proportionately more incidences of gun violence. In Pakistan, my organization’s focus is also on areas affected by conflict and violent extremism. If we are successful in piloting this strategy in any district/s, we shall be the first organization to test and adopt (if successful and encouraging results happen) this strategy. It is inspired by the Epidemic Control Model and is being implemented, currently ongoing by an American INGO called Cure Violence in different cities/states across the United States. I am not sure if any colleague in our cohort represents a donor organization or agency that could be willing to collaborate with us on it shortly. I would love to discuss this further in person. This will be a good start to take the learnings from this course and others as well, we have attended or are currently enrolled in. looking forward to hearing from you.

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