Together, let's advocate for better support
ABOUT US
Safety Net is an advocacy group based in Pakistan that is committed to mobilising community members and working in partnership with local services, to campaign for greater Government investment into rehabilitation support for child brides. Our campaign targets the Sindh province, as it has the highest percentage of child marriage in Pakistan and faces the greatest rates of poverty and social inequalities in the country.
Our Mission
To ensure that more young women and girls in the Sindh province who have experienced child marriage have adequate access to a diversity of holistic support. We advocate for greater investment into a range of coordinated and accessible rehabilitation services that are effective in promoting the safety, health, social connection and wellbeing of child brides.
Download our Theory of Change
Our Principles
Safety Net’s Campaign is underpinned by the following principles:
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Community harmony, enhanced connections and greater access for isolated individuals to networks
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Safety, providing avenues for vulnerable community members to receive assistance
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Collaboration, partnering together to achieve a greater collective impact
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Evidence-based approach, consulting young women who have experienced child marriage, community networks and service providers
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Support, holistic service provision for child brides that promotes good economic outcomes for families
BACKGROUND
PKR 62.5 million
Federal budget allocations 2017 - 2018
PKR 3 billion
PKR 6.9 billion
A number of initiatives in Pakistan seek to prevent child marriage as a community practice. However, there are existing gaps in knowledge around the support required for those who have experienced child marriage.
There are currently no specific Government policies in place relating to the rehabilitation of child brides. Federal funds are broadly allocated towards Women's Development and support.
However, there are no specific funds allocated for targeted rehabilitation efforts.
While existing rehabilitation services are making significant inroads, they are generally discrete, smaller in scale and have resource restrictions that limit their reach, coordination and impact. This results in the unmet needs of girls and young women.
To bridge gaps in health, education, legal aid and skill development
To improve birth outcomes and maternal health
For women's development and financial support
OUR CAMPAIGN
> We mobilise community members, including child brides and their families.
> We partner with our Coalition of Non-Government Organisations.
And together, we will appeal to the Provincial Government of Sindh to:
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Create policies regarding the rehabilitation of girls and young women who have experienced child marriage, and get the issue on the policy agenda by end of 2018
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Allocate funds specifically for the rehabilitation of child brides from the existing budget for Women’s Development
Our Safety Net Coalition
Safety Net partners with a coalition of Non-government Organisations (NGOs) who are our champions on the ground that deliver rehabilitation services for child brides. Our partner agencies not only directly support child brides, but also engage and work closely with the Sindh Provincial Government and Union Councils to influence the policy space.
As a trial, we seek Government-initiated funding for each partner agency in our Safety Net Coalition to achieve the following outcomes within a two-year period:
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Scale up initiatives and invest into more outreach activities to reach and support 25% more child brides in Sindh
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Improve coordination of efforts to promote efficient service delivery and wraparound support for child brides