Faryal Ashfaq

The Mirror

Sexual violence is a serious public health and human rights problem that can have lasting, harmful effects on victims and their friends, family, and communities. Solutions of this horrific crime seem just as complex as this problem. That is why The Mirror, a non-profit organization operating at a national level, takes it upon itself to help combat sexual harassment deeply enrooted in the power structures of the patriarchal society. It aims to bring together passionate young people and unite such individuals under a single umbrella of equality and stop the barbarism that stems from abuse and silences millions of victims. Being an operational NGO, we discuss, design, and implement on-ground projects to accomplish our objectives. All of this requires a great deal of careful planning, communications, and local involvement for each activity that is conducted. At the core, we serve as a platform for women and men alike to take part in leadership roles and opportunities to bring our goals to fruition. These are based on tackling harassment and gender-based sexual violence in Pakistan, where we ensure that every voice is heard, every opinion is taken into consideration, and every life is held of as much importance as another. We actively engage in creating awareness among the youth to eradicate the seeds of the problem by educating from an earlier age, starting from young girls and boys. This challenges harmful indoctrinations, sheds light on a narrative and generates discourse. Through discussions, we also try to urge the government to enforce and implement certain laws and policies that come in the best of the interests of everyone and to act without delays. This also gives the need to have transparent accountability, measurements, and reporting systems enabled throughout Pakistan. As an organisation that employs multifaceted trajectories to address abuse and breach of rights, we proudly play a conscious part in trying to make Pakistan a safer place for all.