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Prevention
Identification
Intervention
Sahil is the only organization in
Pakistan that works exclusively on the issue of child sexual abuse
and exploitation. Our work involves research, awareness raising,
legal advocacy, intervention training, crisis intervention, free
legal and medical aid for victims, publications and the
establishment of a resource center.
Sahil provides:
- Action research
- Training for policy makers and
individuals directly involved with children
- Crisis Intervention for victims
and their families
- Legal assistance through carefully
selected lawyers who work for us on a voluntary basis
- Publications produced as part of
our awareness-raising program
- A resource center established to
enable research on the issue, which is available to the local
public as well as outside organizations and individuals
Sahil also works with the Government
of Pakistan to bring about changes in existing legislation regarding
child sexual abuse.
Child Sexual Abuse is
part of a range of violations against children. Current
conservative tendencies in our society contribute toward denial and
silence on the issue. Given these considerations, Sahil structures
its activities in such a way that the prevalent menace of child
sexual abuse is acknowledged by society thus creating a
more sensitive and supportive environment for the victims and their
families.
Child Sexual Abuse does
not occur in isolation!
Get Involved
Last year in Pakistan there were 886
published cases of child sexual abuse (CSA). That means more than one
male or female child was raped, gang-raped, murdered after the act or
kidnapped with intent every single day.
These figures represent only those cases
when the family - 99% of whom come from a lower socio-economic
background - is courageous enough to register their case with the police.
There are virtually no media reports of abuse in the middle class or
upper class because of warped notions of protecting one's "honour"
through silence and denial.
For every one family that speaks out to
protect their child and take action against the abuser, there are at
least 9 who remain voiceless. In the middle and upper classes, this
figure increases to total denial and silence.
Sahil strongly maintains that at least
90% of sexual abuse cases in Pakistan are never even reported.
Help protect our children. Get involved!
- Spread the word.
Let 5 people know about Sahil by introducing them to our web site.
Download articles and pass them on. Talk to your friends and family
about child sexual abuse to create awareness. If someone you know has
been sexually abused and needs help, ask him or her to contact us
immediately for support.
- Help us expand
our
Resource Centre by sending or recommending books, articles and
magazines that are pertinent and informative.
- Donate funds
for our programs by sending us a cheque or money order. Your donation
will help us continue providing awareness raising within communities,
crisis intervention for victims of child sexual abuse and prostitution
and free legal aid to victims throughout their quest for justice,
which can last up to 3 years. Our plans for the future include
establishing a shelter and the first crisis hotline in Pakistan;
actively advocating for the legislative rights and protection of
victims of child sexual abuse; and establishing branches of Sahil in
urban and rural locales in Pakistan to provide onsite support to
victims.
- Monitor for us.
Sahil monitors the incidence of CSA as reported in the media through
11 national dailies and 4 Sindhi newspapers. This is crucial to our
understanding of the prevalence of CSA in Pakistan. Those of you
in Sindh, N.W.F.P. and Balochistan especially can help us establish a
more thorough system by reading local newspapers and sending us the
original clippings of any report of CSA that you see by mail, with an
Urdu or English translation attached as required. Remember to include
the name of the newspaper and the date and page it was published on.
- Invite us
to organize an awareness-raising seminar in your home, school or
community.
- Network socially.
Arrange a charity auction, dinner, concert or exhibition to benefit
victims of sexual abuse through Sahil and spread awareness on CSA.
- Brainstorm.
If you have any ideas of how we can improve or ways that we can reach
out to and connect with more people, contact us!
Get active & get involved - because no
one has to be a victim!
To get more information about Sahil, go to:
http://pakpowerpage.com/db/jump.cgi?ID=957
Contact Information:
Sahil
#3, Street No. 32, Sector F-8/1,
Islamabad, Pakistan.
Tel: 92-51-260636, 252534
Fax: 92-51-254678
E-mail: info@sahil.org
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