Concept Paper of Advocacy Seminar

Concept Paper regarding conducting of one-day awareness raising-cum-advocacy seminar on;

1.     Women and Health issues in FANA in connection with International Women Day (March 08) and World Health Day (April 07) and 

2.     Inauguration of NAACC Progress Report 2002-2007

On Wednesday, April 09, 2008 at Gilgit

The NAACC:

The Northern Areas AIDS Control Consortium (NAACC) (www.naacc.org.pk and   www.pnac.net.pk), a non profitable, welfare-cum-developmental network, was established in 2002 and registered with Govt during 2004, now it is a network of 32 registered NGOs and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Health and social sector from all seven districts of the FANA. The focus of all these NGOs is on prevention and control of HIV and AIDS and other infectious diseases including Hepatitis B and C and development of Northern Areas. 

Right from day one, NAACC rendered services to raise awareness and bring about attitudinal change among the masses and vulnerable population towards HIV and AIDS, and social issues including women issues in Northern Areas. To achieve its mission, vision and objectives, NAACC conducted on self-help basis and also on donations, various activities and interventions from time to time at grassroots level with an objective to raise awareness, sensitise, bring about attitudinal & behaviour change and advocacy & lobbying on aforesaid issues. In addition, NAACC is implementing a project titled “TAMEER Project” from 2004 to date with financial support from EC and DFID.

Background:

The Northern Areas AIDS Control Consortium (NAACC) is rendering services for combating HIV&AIDS and other infectious diseases and uplifting health-seeking behavior and Health Education with special focus on Rights Based Approach (RBA) and Women Rights since 2002.

In order to join hands with all stakeholders and marginalized groups locally and globally NAACC has plan to conduct a meaningful awareness raising-cum-advocacy based Seminar on the eve of International Women Day (March 08) and World Health Day (April 07) on April 09, 2008 at Gilgit in collaboration with NAs Health Directorate, IUCN-NAs, Karakuram Cooperative Bank (KCBL) NAs PDCN (Women Support Group), Population Welfare Program NAs,.

Theme of the activity:

"How Gender Discrimination and Superstition/Fatalism lead vulnerabilities to transmission of HIV, high rate of MMR and IMR and Suicide among Women in FANA?"

(Maternal Mortality Rate-MMR)

(Infant Mortality Rate-IMR)

Objectives:

Main objectives of the seminar are as follows:

1.      Observing International Women Day and World Health Day at Northern Areas (FANA) to show solidarity with marginalized and deprived groups of the region.

2.      Highlighting major women issues including MMR, IMR and Suicide faced women in FANA.

3.      Sensitization of key stakeholders about the worst impact of Gender Discrimination on women’s socio-economic conditions in FANA.

4.      To know how Gender Discrimination plays an important role in increasing vulnerabilities to transmission of HIV, high rate of MMR and IMR and suicide among women in FANA.

5.      To disseminate information related to these issues through local cable networks, Radio Pakistan Gilgit and print media.

6.      Inauguration of NAACC Progress Report 2002-2007

Methodology:

This is one-day awareness raising-cum-advocacy seminar in which six key speakers would be addressed the august gathering and highlighting issues closely related to the theme of the seminar. Activity will be started at 10:00 am and ended at 3:00 pm.

Key Participants:

Key stakeholders from public, private, CSOs, NGOs, FBOs, UN system, INGOs, CBOs, WOs, Media, polity, lawyers, legislatures, youth and religious leaders etc.

No. Of Participants: 60

Date:

April 09, 2008

Expected Outputs of the activity:

1.      Observed International Women Day and World Health Day at Northern Areas (FANA) and expressed solidarity with marginalized and deprived women of the region.

2.      Highlighted major women issues faced women in FANA.

3.      Sensitized key stakeholders about the nastiest impact of Gender Discrimination on women’s socio-economic conditions in FANA.

4.      Find out role of Gender Discrimination in increasing vulnerabilities to transmission of HIV, high rate of MMR and IMR and suicide among women in FANA.

5.      Disseminated information related to above-mentioned issues through local cable networks, Radio Pakistan Gilgit and print media.

6.      Gathered concrete recommendations for effectively addressing these issues especially gender discrimination, MMR, IMR and suicide in FANA by public, private, CSOs and NGOs sector.

7.      Inaugurated and disseminated NAACC Progress Report 2002-2007

 ________________________________________________________________________

 By: Ishtiaq Ahmed Yaad

       General Secretary (Director) NAACC

       Ph. Office. 55980, 51689 Cell No. 0346-8488874

       Email. Ishtiaq@naacc.pnac.net.pk