The agenda of first civil society referral network meeting in Karachi in year 2010 was to identify and enlist network members, discuss roles and responsibilities of network members, and the network’s structure and processes. The format of the meeting was participatory and the recommendations were generated through group work by participants. As a result, a network was formed which comprises a governing body and an implementing body. Members of the network are organizations and individuals who are working on the issue of violence against women and children.
The governing body comprises four organizations including WAR, Aurat Foundation, SANJOG and PAWLA (due to some succession problems at PAWLA after its president’s death, PAWLA’s membership has been frozen till such time these matters are resolved). The implementing body members include AAHUNG, Benazir Women’s Centre, Crisis Support Centre, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), KONPAL, Madadgar Helpline, Pakistan Association of Mental Health (PAMH), Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), Roshni Helpline, Shehri CBE, Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), Women’s Action Forum (WAF), Working Women’s Organization, and various individuals including senior police official, journalists and social/political workers. WAR is trying to engage several lawyers and legislators in this network.
