You are here

21/02/2024

After the devastating Pakistan floods, with funding from Japan, UNFPA prioritized: 
(1) Provision of lifesaving sexual and reproductive health services for women, adolescents and youth through implementation of the MISP for SRH 
(2) Provision of survivor-centered gender-based violence mitigation and response services for the flood-affected population, especially women and girls; and vulnerable groups including persons with disabilities
(3) Strengthening coordination mechanisms at national and sub-national levels with partners working to deliver SRH and GBV risk mitigation and response services. 
and will help to expand the coverage of the target population in addition to the activities being implemented in both provinces under CERF and UNFPA regular resources funds.   
 

21/12/2023

An estimated 30,000 women die each year due to pregnancy-related causes in Pakistan. 36% of girls are married before the age of 18, and 10% of girls are married before the age of 15. These alarming statistics emphasize the urgent need to address maternal health and child marriage issues in Pakistan.

 

In Pakistan, prevailing gender norms contribute to a dire situation where an estimated 30,000 women succumb to pregnancy-related causes annually. Shockingly, 36% of girls are forced into marriage before reaching the age of 18, with an alarming 10% being married off before they even turn 15.

 

Recognizing the urgent need for transformative action, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and School of Leadership Foundation (SoLF) initiated a behavior change communication campaign in 2022 - titled “Hifazat”, under which a youth-led social media campaign was conducted which reached over 1M individuals.

 

As an extension, this year, impactful theatre performances were conducted to shed light on the grim realities of reproductive health and child marriage and to challenge ingrained societal beliefs and norms. Through the medium of theatre, the campaign sought to engage communities in a collective dialogue, fostering empathy and understanding.

 

The Hifazat campaign tackled the Sexual and Reproductive issues in Pakistan through a dual approach: leveraging the reach of social media for nationwide awareness and utilizing live theatre performances for impactful community engagement. With the help of Theatre Wallay, a dedicated group of artists committed to the art of theatre and literature, the 'Hifazat' campaign featured twenty impactful performances. These theatrical presentations took place in Charsadda, Swabi, Swat (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa); Lasbela (Balochistan); Rawalpindi, Multan, and Bahawalpur (Punjab); as well as in Sukkur, Khairpur, and Larkana (Sindh), ensuring a broad and diverse reach across provinces.

 

The premiere performance in Rawalpindi set the stage for the campaign's success, receiving resounding applause from the audience. Saima Ahmed, a community leader and advocate for youth empowerment, shared, "The performances were an eye-opener, not just for the younger generation but also for our elders. It's time for a paradigm shift in how we address topics like reproductive health and child marriage. The play should be taken to more communities, sparking conversations that challenge outdated norms and foster understanding across generations.”

 

"The power of theatre lies in its ability to transcend barriers and connect with people on a deeply emotional level. Through these performances, we not only impart knowledge but also ignite conversations that challenge the status quo. It's an important tool for raising awareness and, more importantly, fostering a collective commitment to tackle pressing issues like reproductive health, gender-based violence and child marriage" commented Professor Dr Tahir Mehmood, Director General of Social  and Cultural Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan.

 

To foster ongoing dialogue and reflection, post-performance discussions and awareness sessions were conducted. These interactive sessions provided community members with the opportunity to share perspectives, ask questions, and engage in further conversation to deepen their understanding of crucial societal issues.

 

Abdur Rahman, an enthusiastic attendee at the 'Hifazat' campaign performance, expressed his appreciation for the impactful performances. "The performances were truly commendable; they shed light on topics that our community rarely discussed openly. We needed this initiative to break the silence and raise awareness on crucial matters like reproductive health and gender-based issues. The arts have a unique power to spark meaningful conversations, and these performances did just that.”

 

The collaborative effort between UNFPA Pakistan and SoLF emphasizes the significance of collective action in addressing societal challenges. By harnessing creative storytelling through theatre, the 'Hifazat' campaign has successfully sparked conversations on vital topics, creating awareness within communities and contributing to positive societal change.

01/12/2023

"Discussions on sexual & reproductive health need to be normalized and be part of important discussions at all levels and platforms if HIV and AIDS have to be defeated in Pakistan," said UNFPA Pakistan Representative Dr. Luay Shabaneh at the World AIDS Day event in Islamabad on December 1, 2023.

He said HIV and AIDS also have gender significance because, usually, men are transmitters while women are victims. Young people are more exposed; therefore, they should be at the center of attention to prevent them from HIV and AIDS, and other sexually transmitted infections.

20/10/2023

Every child deserves a happy and loving childhood filled with nurturing. Our dedication lies in guaranteeing that girls are given equal opportunities to learn, play, and flourish, thereby contributing to the development of a robust and healthy nation. Child marriage is a human rights violation. Despite laws against it, the practice remains widespread.

UNFPA is committed to delivering tangible, evidence-based solutions to child marriage, with an emphasis on efforts that are gender-transformative, can be scaled up, sustained, and produce measurable results. UNFPA works with governments and civil society partners at all levels to promote and protect the human rights of girls, including assisting with the development of sexual and reproductive health, gender and youth policies, programmes and services and to transform gender norms to end the practice of child marriage.

04/09/2023

Over the past year, UNFPA has been actively engaged in efforts to address the pressing needs of women, girls, and communities impacted by the floods, providing crucial reproductive health services to ensure safe pregnancies and childbirth, while also delivering essential support to survivors of gender-based violence.

More than 1,029,487 people have been reached with sexual and reproductive health services namely 15,428 safe deliveries through skilled birth attendants, 650 women received post-abortion care, and 50,000 individuals were provided with modern contraceptive methods of their choice.

31/08/2023

A resounding call for youth empowerment and sustainable action echoed through the halls of Quaid-e-Azam University as UNFPA Pakistan and the School of Leadership Foundation (SoLF) joined forces to commemorate International Youth Day 2023. The event aimed to celebrate the potential of the youth, acknowledge their challenges and inspire innovative approaches towards a greener and more sustainable future.

 

The event opened with the warm welcome of Ms. Latika Maskey Pradhan, Deputy Representative of UNFPA Pakistan, and Dr. Niaz Ahmed Akhter, the esteemed Vice-Chancellor of Quaid-e-Azam University. Addressing the audience, Ms. Pradhan emphasized the urgency of addressing sustainable development challenges in the current global landscape.

 

"In a world that is witnessing both technological leaps and environmental crises, the role of our youth is pivotal. They possess the creativity, passion, and drive to lead us towards a more sustainable future," said Ms. Pradhan. "With the clock ticking on the 2030 sustainable development agenda, it's imperative that we empower our youth with the skills they need to navigate these challenges."

 

Recognizing the importance of green skills for youth, the event featured interactive presentations, dialogues, and a theatre performance that captured the essence of the day.

The collaboration between UNFPA and SoLF resonated strongly throughout the event, as their joint projects were highlighted as essential steps toward nurturing young leaders for sustainable change.

 

"Theater is a powerful medium for conveying messages of change and empowerment. By including a theatre performance in today’s event, our aim was to awaken the hearts and minds of our youth, encouraging thoughtful discussions on our collective role in shaping a greener future," remarked Mariyam Irfan, the Managing Director of SoLF.

 

The event shed light on the significant strides made by UNFPA and SoLF in Pakistan, to foster innovative ideas and equip young minds with the tools needed for social entrepreneurship and green development. Projects such as the Health & Well-being Innovation Challenge and the Generation Unlimited Challenge have empowered youth to take charge of change-making initiatives.

 

"The collaboration between UNFPA and SoLF signifies our commitment to nurturing a generation of responsible leaders," stated Rabia Pasha Gillani, Programme Officer, Adolescents and Youth SRHR."

 

As the event concluded, participants expressed enthusiasm and a renewed commitment to driving sustainable change. The event served as a rallying point for youth to engage, innovate, and collaborate on critical challenges for the betterment of society and the planet.

28/07/2023

Video message by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) by Ms. Diene Keita United Nations Population Fund Deputy Executive Director (Programme) on 'women’s health, education, reproductive rights and economic empowerment for prosperity' at the conference on Resilient Pakistan- Calibrating Population and Resources - July 202

13/03/2023

The Project titled “Sihaat Mand Khaandaan (SMK) Project; Health Families for Pakistan Through Accelerating Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) and Family Planning (FP) Services (2020-2024)” aims at improving the reproductive health and rights of women, adolescents and youth in the project’s target areas with poor reproductive health indicators, especially those furthest behind, enabling them to exercise their reproductive rights, free of coercion, discrimination and violence.

The project is designed to advance the Sexual and Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR) of women and girls in its target areas, specifically “to be informed of and to have access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of family planning of their choice, as well as other methods of their choice for regulating fertility which is not against the law, and the right to access appropriate health care services that will enable women to have a safe pregnancy and childbirth and provide couples with the best chance of having a healthy infant

24/08/2022

With support from Global Affairs Canada, UNFPA is implementing the project “Sihat Mand Khaandaan (SMK): Healthy Families for Pakistan through Accelerated Sexual and Reproductive Health and Family Planning Services” which is designed to address the remaining challenges in the areas of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, including family planning and maternal health.

 

UNFPA is working closely with the federal and provincial governments, Aga Khan Foundation, and other implementing partners to ensure a conducive and enabling policy environment, strengthen the delivery of quality, gender-responsive, and inclusive FP/RH services, and reduce gender and social barriers to utilization and uptake of FP/RH services by women, men, girls, and boys. Policy efforts are concentrated at the federal and provincial levels (specifically, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan); whereas the service delivery strengthening and social change, components are concentrated in selected districts of Sindh (Matiari and Qambar Shahdadkot), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Upper and Lower Chitral), and Gilgit-Baltistan (Ghizer, Gilgit, Hunza, Nagar, Skardu, Astore, Kharmang and Diamer). The implementation period of the project is from 2020 to 2024.

 

The video is on the voices from the field.

20/06/2022

The video highlights the importance of political scanning and how we can be much more effective in our dialogues once we find an entry point into societies. While we have theoretical frameworks for GBV, FGM, and Child Marriage, it is important to find the power within ourselves - to internalize human rights as individuals from within - to ensure the wellbeing of women and girls.

Pages