LAHORE
\nA two-day training for Girls\u2019 Education Champions representing 16 districts of Punjab concluded in Lahore, focusing on strengthening girls\u2019 leadership, advocacy skills and understanding of institutional mechanisms to advance the right to quality secondary education with support of Malala Fund.
\nOrganized under the theme \u201cBuilding Girls\u2019 Leadership for the Right to Quality Secondary Education,\u201d the training brought together 32 Girls\u2019 Education Champions from 16 districts of Punjab, along with experts and representatives from key institutions, to strengthen participants\u2019 understanding of girls\u2019 education, gender equality, human rights, protection mechanisms and advocacy pathways, while building their leadership and capacity to advocate for girls\u2019 rights.
\nDuring the training, Ms. Marium Amjad, Programs Lead, AwazCDS-Pakistan, shared key findings and evidence from \u201cStolen Futures,\u201d highlighting the challenges and barriers affecting girls\u2019 access to education and the importance of evidence-based advocacy for improving educational opportunities for girls.
\nMr. Waheed Iqbal, Director, Punjab Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW), led an interactive session on the role, mandate and functions of PCSW.
\nHe discussed the Commission\u2019s contribution to promoting and protecting the rights of women and girls and explained how education champions can engage with relevant institutional mechanisms to raise issues concerning discrimination, protection, participation and empowerment of girls and women.
\nAddressing the intersection of gender, education and climate change, Mr. Joshua Dilawar, Climate Activist, facilitated a participatory discussion on how climate-related shocks can disproportionately affect girls\u2019 education, safety, mobility and future opportunities.
\nThe session explored the structural and gendered vulnerabilities that can prevent girls from continuing their education, particularly during climate-related emergencies.
\nDr. Uzma Ashiq, Academia, facilitated a session on gender rights and breaking the cycle of violence, where champions discussed gender equality, discrimination and gender-based violence.
\nThe session emphasized how quality secondary education can strengthen girls\u2019 agency, confidence, knowledge and economic opportunities while challenging harmful gender norms and contributing to the prevention of violence.
\nAn interactive theatre performance by Aurat Katha (Feministory) further engaged the champions around the right of girls to education.
\nThrough participatory theatre, the session portrayed barriers faced by girls and encouraged participants to critically examine discriminatory social and cultural norms, harmful practices and attitudes that restrict girls\u2019 access to education.
\nOn the second day, Ms. Humera Aslam, facilitated a rights-based session on girls\u2019 education and child rights. The discussion highlighted girls\u2019 education as a fundamental right and explored how quality secondary education contributes to dignity, agency, participation, protection, informed life choices and long-term social and economic empowerment.
\nA key component of the training was the session led by Mr. Ghulam Abbas, Assistant Director, National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) Punjab, who introduced the champions to the role, mandate and functions of NCHR Punjab.
\nHe explained the mechanisms available for addressing human rights concerns and violations and guided the participants on how rights violations can be raised before the Commission, the process for seeking institutional support, and the mechanisms through which girls and women can pursue their rights and strengthen accountability.
\nThe session enabled the champions to better understand where and how they can seek support when confronted with discrimination, violence or other human rights violations.
\nThe training concluded with the Girls\u2019 Education Champions making individual and collective commitments to take forward advocacy for girls\u2019 education within their communities and districts.
\nThe champions reflected on their role as advocates for girls\u2019 rights and discussed ways to use their learning, community engagement and available institutional mechanisms to promote girls\u2019 continued access to quality secondary education.
\nThe two-day training provided the champions with a combination of knowledge, evidence, leadership skills and practical understanding of rights and accountability mechanisms, enabling them to become stronger advocates for girls\u2019 education and gender equality across Punjab.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAHORE A two-day training for Girls\u2019 Education Champions representing 16 districts of Punjab concluded in Lahore, focusing on strengthening girls\u2019 leadership, advocacy skills and understanding of institutional mechanisms to advance the right to quality secondary education with support of Malala Fund. Organized under the theme \u201cBuilding Girls\u2019 Leadership for the Right to Quality Secondary Education,\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":565780,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-565754","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-national"],"yoast_head":"\n