Saba Taimoor Shirakat (Pakistan) Final Internship Report

Saba Taimoor
Shirakat (Pakistan)
Final Internship Report
My summer internship at Shirakat (NGO) in Islamabad, Pakistan

has been one of the most significant learning experiences of my
life. Shirakat is a grassroots Pakistani NGO that seeks to empower
the girl child by giving her access to the skills, education and
resources that she needs to develop into her full potential as a
woman. In contrast to many large organizations based in
Islamabd and working on advocacy, Shirakat is located in the rural
townships, which puts the organization in a strategic position to
reach out to the most vulnerable girls in the poverty-stricken rural
areas. In addition to promoting the empowerment of these girls
through local girls' empowerment clubs (there are over 350 clubs,
which are operated through schools across the country), the
organization also provides much needed emergency aid in the form
of school fees, medical supplies, sanitary ware, and other basic
supplies to girls in need. Finally, Shirakat also serves as an intake
center where girls can report cases of abuse, especially sexual
abuse, which is alarmingly common. Shirakat provides girls with
emergency counseling, and also operates several rehabilitation
centers, called “empowerment villages,” where survivors of abuse
and rape can receive the care they need.
Over the course of the summer at Shirakat, I had the opportunity to

get involved in a variety of projects, which are explained in more
detail below:
1. Child Sexual Offences Bill

I began the summer by assisting Shirakat in the drafting of
legislation aimed at stiffening sentences for child sexual offenders.
At present, no such legislation exists to offer specific protection
to children, and so Shirakat took the initiative to begin drafting a
bill called the Child Sexual Offences Bill. When I arrived,
Shirakat had successfully lobbied stakeholders and policy
makers to support the bill, but the actual legislation was still in
draft form. Since none of Shirakat staff members have any legal
training, I took on the role of revising and editing the bill. After
researching the relevant Pakistani laws, I used the relevant
Canadian and British legislation as a guide to help Shirakat to
come up with a final draft.
2. Preparing Child-Friendly Legal Information
I was also involved in helping to prepare legal educational tools to

assist young girls in preparation for trial. Having reviewed cases
on file attended trial with survivors of rape, I noticed that one of
the major problems was the actual testimony given by victims,
who were seldom prepared for the difficulties of testifying about
such painful personal experiences. To address this problem, I
prepared a child-friendly informational brochure for young girls
which included: a simplified explanation of the laws that exist to
protect children, information on the prosecution process, tips on
testifying, a diagram of the courtroom and glossary of legal terms,
etc.
3. Participating in Rescue-Missions
Throughout the summer, I had several opportunities to travel with
Shirakat team through the rural countryside and assist them in
carrying out “rescue missions” – which involve removing girls
from abusive situations. For example, one such mission involved
traveling to the remote villages in the hills of eastern Pakistan to
remove several young girls at risk of being married off to an older
man in order to appease the avenging spirits that were believed to
be haunting the village. Shirakat organized an informal tribunal
with village chiefs, elders, and police officers to help stop the
planned early marriages and educate the community about the
importance of postponing marriage until a girl has attained the age
of 18. This was an incredible experience and allowed me the
opportunity to develop an appreciation for the deep-rooted cultural
and traditional practices that can sometimes complicate efforts to
seek the advancement of women and girls.
My experiences at Shirakat have definitely helped me gain a better

appreciation of the incredible obstacles involved in fighting to
enhance the status of girls and women. I also came to understand
the central importance of eradicating gender based violence in
order to halt the spread of poverty and HIV-AIDS.
The opportunity to work in a country facing such acute economic

and political problems was also an incredibly enriching and
educational experience. I have come to understand the unique
practical challenges involved in implementing human rights in a
country where food, water, health care, electricity, telephones and
roads are often lacking.
Finally, I have also gained a great deal of respect and admiration

for the resilience and strength of the people of Pakistan whose
spirit and energy in the face of so much hardship is truly
remarkable.

Saba Taimoor Shirakat (Pakistan) Final Internship Report

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Saba Taimoor

My summer internship at Shirakat (NGO) in Islamabad, Pakistan

Over the course of the summer at Shirakat, I had the opportunity to

1. Child Sexual Offences Bill

2. Preparing Child-Friendly Legal Information

I was also involved in helping to prepare legal educational tools to

My experiences at Shirakat have definitely helped me gain a better

The opportunity to work in a country facing such acute economic

Finally, I have also gained a great deal of respect and admiration

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