On 8th March 2010 International Women's Day Celebration was held in New Saeedabad, Sind. Al Mehran Rural Development Organization - AMRDO, a partner CBO, arranged this event with the collaboration of Transparency International Pakistan and Strengthening Participatory Organization. Abdul Jabbar Chhachhar of AMRDO introduced the speakers.

More than 300 women, majority of them belonging to the rural communities, attended this event. AMRDO planned skits and tableau portraying the discrimination and problems faced by the women. In one such play, a man was lamenting about daughters born to him and the burden they had become.

The audience enjoyed this small show and applauded the actors whole heartedly. These plays were enacted by school children from both the primary and secondary schools. AMRDO’s personnel and teachers took part in it too. Prizes were distributed amongst the school children.

Two females from the audience came on the dais and gave their views. They encouraged the women to come forward and fight for their rights. During a dance segment the children were doing, some women from the audience joined them. This is unheard of in these rural areas. This act showed that the female has woken up and has become aware that she has a mind of her own.

TI-P was represented by Nargis A. Mirza. She spoke on the aims and objectives of TI-P and the Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre. She informed the participants of the services provided by TI-P to the victims of corruption. She was given the honour of distributing the prizes amongst the actors. She also distributed pamphlets and pens having TI-P’s toll free number.

 

At the end of the program, two individuals, a male and a female, came up to Ms. Mirza to seek advice on corruption that they were facing. She advised them to send the details of their cases to TI-P and it would be followed up.

The print and electronic media gave coverage. KTN News showed glimpses of this event.