The Seminar was organized at Best Western hotel, Islamabad in 2009. The purpose of this forum was to advocate the rights of bonded laborers in Pakistan which is a modern form of slavery. The forum invited government representatives, educational institutes, local organizations representatives and other stakeholders to work on the issue of bonded labor. A theatre performance was also staged on bonded labor. The performance was also performed at various locations in Pakistan especially Hyderabad and South Punjab.
Community Support/ Facilitation Programs/ Projects
Thematic Areas
Community Support/ Facilitation Programs/ Projects
1. Bonded Labor
Trocaire/NED- Bonded Labor Campaign- 2012
This project was initiated in collaboration with Trocaire which aimed at the eradication of bonded labour in brick kilns and the agricultural sector in Punjab and Sindh. Awareness methods such as theatre, documentaries, video testimonies e.t.c were applied to propagate the very message. In 2012 this campaign also focused on the implementation of the bonded labor abolition act. The orientation of lawyers regarding this law with the assistance of Dr Ali Qazalbash was also an integral part of this campaign.A total of 34 video documentaries were produced by maati.tv. In order to further effectively combat this problem a play by IRC was performed at the UCC Dublin University inorder to highlight the issue at a global level.
National Forum on Bonded Labor- 2009
Trocaire- PILAR- One Day Workshop- 2004
The IRC, Trocai, Anti-Slavery International conducted a one day workshop in Karachi on the 17th of February, 2004. The programme discussed in detail the crisis of bonded labour specifically in Brick Kilns in Punjab and in agriculture in Sindh.
2. Disaster/Flood Victims
Capacity Building of Flood Victims through Mobile Films-Sarhad Rural Support Group- OSI- Mojoz Foundation- Omer Asghar development foundation- Thardeep Rural Development- 2012
This campaign aimed at improving accountability and providing voice to those who would have been denied otherwise. 50 mobile phones were distributed in 5 districts where 3 day trainings were received by the participants and their short documentaries emphasizing on issues of health and education were published on maati.tv.IRC started the innovative concept of using mobile phones to document the post flood rehabilitation efforts that promoted the idea of citizen journalism amongst the local community.
Two interactive training workshops took place over 7 months that resulted in 8 performances that were recorded and broadcasted via cable network. The original scripts were translated bilingually and published
III. Safe Drinking Campaign
Safe Drinking Campaign- Fund for Human Development- 2012
The safe water drinking water campaign is a joint initiative of interactive resource center and fund for human development (FDHR) this campaign focused on awareness of safe water drinking.Tools such as theatre, video profiles and tripartite dialogues were used as the mode of awareness within the areas Multan, Johi, Jafrabad and Bahawal Nagar.
Two interactive training workshops took place over 7 months that resulted in 8 performances that were recorded and broadcasted via cable network. The original scripts were translated bilingually and published
Save the Children-PEPAS Project- 2012
This project was a four year program which focuses on issues of water, sanitation, environment and female education.This campaign was targeted in schools in illahi and bhatta gran where tools such as theatre and puppet shows have been made use of.
Two interactive training workshops took place over 7 months that resulted in 8 performances that were recorded and broadcasted via cable network. The original scripts were translated bilingually and published
IV. Farmers’ Awareness Campaign
Awareness on Social and Economic Rights through interactive Theatre- CIDA-2003
This project was initiated to create awareness on issues of water shortage, privatization, corporate farming, globalization, human rights and gender equality through interactive theatre techniques and to strengthen the theatrics community in order to use theatre as a tool for advocacy and awareness.Multiple activities were planned in order to achieve the desired result, six theatre groups were formed, a total of 9 training workshops were conducted, the six theatre groups performed a total of 30 theatre performances and of the 30 theatre performances 12 theatre performances will be recorded and disseminated at wider channels, 2 theatre festivals of 3 days will be organized and promotional material on effectiveness of interactive material will be produced.