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    Rozan: Promoting a Violence Free Pakistan

    Written by: Amna Javed
    Posted on: February 26, 2016 |

    Community Engagement Activities in Rawat by Rozan

    Despite recent events which attracted a great deal of attention from across the country, child sexual abuse is perhaps the least acknowledged category of molestation in Pakistan. Warranting immediate attention, as responsible members of the community, we can no longer brush the issue aside and naively assume it will never happen to our children. It has become pertinent to assure that not only are our children safe from the menace, but are also equipped to recognize and tackle sexual abuse, should the need ever arise. 

    Rozan, an NGO based in Islamabad, is working on issues related to child sexual abuse as well as their emotional and psychological health. The organization aims “to work with all people, especially vulnerable groups, to collectively strive for a society that is violence free, self aware and accepting of itself and others.” Currently undertaking four programs (Aangan, Zeest, Rabta and Hamqadam) – Rozan’s ‘Aangan’ works as a resource center on the emotional health of children and youth, focusing particularly on child sexual abuse.

    Rozan's theatre Activity to raise awareness regarding child sexual abuse

    Theatre Activity to raise awareness regarding child sexual abuse

    Mr. Babar Bashir, Managing Director at Rozan Islamabad told Youlin that their organization’s approach is holistic and that their interventions are framed from a prevention and protection perspective. “All of Rozan’s programs are structured around one or more of their core strategies, including awareness raising, psychological support and referral, and capacity building and training.” Rozan’s core mission is to work for a society that is violence free. The idea stems from the fact that development and violence cannot coexist. Mr. Babar stressed that if we dream of a society that is violence free, we need to tackle the root causes and work with communities on ground to ensure that it is translated to the bigger mission of a violence free society. “Our organization has adopted an all-inclusive approach to deal with the problem; we work with groups and individuals, including women, men and children, as well as institutions, because even though we may engage communities and raise awareness regarding issues, but it also important to engage state institutions as they are the ones who take action and respond to the needs of that particular community. 

    Further elaborating on the issue of child sexual abuse and their emotional and mental health, Mr. Babar highlighted that their program for children and youth has also been linked to their program for women, men as well as the police because these areas are closely related. Aangan, instituted in 1992, was Rozan’s first program and is in its 23rd year as of now. The fundamental principle for undertaking this initiative was to postulate a safe environment for children in a violence-prone society where discussing child sexual abuse is considered taboo and as a result, is largely ignored. “Our people, even today, are reluctant to talk on this matter, and no organization has consolidated any data relating to this issue,” said Mr. Bashir emphatically.

    Rozan NGO Islamabad: Child Sexual Abuse Protection

    A Puppet Show organized for a local community in Rawat

    Cases where a child has been sexually abused are neither effectively reported to the police, nor followed up by the parents. Additionally, no strong legislation exists to provide protection to the victims. Bearing these issues in mind, the program was developed to reach local communities and raise awareness among children about their bodies, and equip them with necessary skills to protect themselves from any sort of abuse.

    Rozan has primarily focused their activities in areas around Islamabad. Specialized teams are structured for conducting a need assessment in communities and identifying areas where the organization can help and assist them. Once linkages with the community have been established, Rozan’s teams identify and mobilize groups of women (specially mothers), children as well as other important locals to raise awareness about child sexual abuse and on ways to ensure the safety of their children. This process involves holding community meetings, drills, group discussions as well as trainings. “Rozan has developed a lot of training material in relation to the subject, which includes animated cartoons and books in English, Urdu as well as Pushto.

    Rozan NGO Islamabad: Child Sexual Abuse Protection

    Since each community has different needs and requirements, Rozan’s approach to the topic is very sensitive and community oriented. “It has never happened that communities respond positively as soon as we reach out to them, which is why we have to amend our approach to meet the needs and requirements of the specific community that we are targeting,” Mr. Bashir highlighted.

    On an issue that is widely sidelined, organizations such as Rozan run full-fledged programs focused on child sexual abuse. Babar Bashir highlighted that when it comes to sexual abuse, not being able to speak about it openly becomes the victim’s greatest vulnerability and understanding the importance of proactively seeking the required knowledge and skills to communicate with children is one way of playing our roles effectively as responsible community members.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021