From 25 November (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to 10 December (Human Rights Day), the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign is a time to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world. This year’s theme is to “End Gender-Based Violence in the World of Work”. These 16 days we will be sharing the stories of our very own ‘Siyani Sahelian’ (Wise Friends) who have faced violence and freed themselves through education. There are many more like them but they are faceless; these have come to the forefront due to their deeds and images. 

Saira is from a Hindu community, one of the minority religions in a predominantly Muslim-country. As a result, Saira and her family were frequently discriminated against by others in their society of Bheel Nagar, Rahim Yar Khan. This made it even more risky for her family to send Saira out of the house: the society already looks down on girls that leave the house for education purposes. Saira’s parents thus never let her leave the house to attend school, fearing for her safety. This made Saira furious: was she so fragile and unable to protect herself? Was there something wrong with her religion? Why were girls who wanted to learn frowned upon? And most annoyingly, why were there different standards for her brothers and male cousins? 

Saira’s questions continue to boil, but she never got a satisfactory answer. As Saira got older, her mother involved her in bonded labour. Saira thus worked long hours being exploited for her labour in a local factory and at homes, helping her parents put bread on the table. Saira reports frequently being sexually assaulted by older men in the factory: she was young, vulnerable and an easy target. Her parents were struggling financially far too much to respond to their daughter’s cries to quit working at the factory. Eventually the harassment became routine for Saira and she saw no way out. Instead, she would spend her evenings helping out at her father’s small store trying to forget about having to return to work the next day.

ITA’s Siyani Sahelian team found Saira in the store and discovered her story. The team convinced her parents that this was not the life for any woman, especially not a child (Saira is only 12 years old). The team explained to both Saira and her family that teaching Saira even basic literacy and numeracy skills under the program will largely improve her options for a better, safer career. Saira thus enrolled in the program in the Rahim Yar Khan Hub, where there are a large number of Hindu and Christian minorities enrolled allowing Saira to feel safe.

Saira is now able to read and write, and manages the accounts at her father’s shop herself – something she struggled with earlier. She dreams of one-day taking over and expanding her father’s store.

*Note: Names have been changed to protect the identity of the mentioned persons.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA)