House of Hope Safe House for Women

              Say NO to Honor Killing badge                    Honor Killings and other serious crimes against women, such as acid throwing, though illegal in Pakistan, are often seen as “domestic issues” which should not involve the police with the result that the penalties meted out to the perpetrators  are often far too lenient for the crime.  Honor killings and crimes of this type are a tradition in Pakistan, where many women and girls live in fear in their own households.  In many cases, after the woman has been brutalized, she is cast out of her own home and left to fend for themselves.  This was the situation of Guryia, age 22, a poor woman from Garishaho Lahore who had acid thrown in her face, blinding her in one eye, seriously damaging the other eye, creating burns and complications with her respiratory system, and disfiguring her horribly.  Left to painfully die in the streets, she was fortunate to be found by Hope Development Organization, HDO.

A change in the male-dominated culture in Pakistan cannot be forced from outside.  It must change from within.  We can only act to empower women, which empowers communities and, by extension, the entire society.  Awareness, Education, and Empowerment are the initial steps in a journey of evolution and consciousness leading to equal rights and gender equality within society.

Women in Pakistan do have legal options, but are often unaware of them, which is why HHI is sponsoring an Advocacy Initiative, but women at serious risk need immediate help.  Humanity Healing International and our partner Hope Development Organization are working to help women at risk transition from a life of fear to a life of empowerment.

HDO currently runs its Vocational Training Program (see HHI Sends Sewing Machines to Pakistan) out of a small rented building in Faisalabad, Pakistan and currently works with 40 women and girls.  Unfortunately, there is far more need than there is capacity to help.

Safe House PakistanHumanity Healing is seeking the funds to purchase a Safe House in Pakistan where women living in fear can find a secure, temporary refuge while transitioning to an independent life.  The capacity of the Safe House will be between 80-100 women.   In addition, with the additional space, the current vocational training program can be expanded.  This will also serve as a training area for the Advocacy Program.

The cost to buy the property in a safe neighborhood, close to a police station, set up the Safe House and begin operations is approximately $62,000 USD.
Say NO to Honor Killings
Humanity Healing International and its partner in Pakistan, Hope Development Organization, are standing up for the women and girls of Pakistan to wipe out the stain of “honor” killings. We are doing this through an Advocacy Against Honor Killings campaign in Pakistan to help empower women, through the building of the House of Hope Safe House for Women and girls, and through a petition drive to raise awareness.

We need YOUR Voice!   Please sign the Petition below.

“Acid Throwing” is more than a term used to describe when a man in Pakistan decides that his wife, his sister or his daughter has maculated the honor of the family.  It is a heinous crime and it is prolific in Pakistan, where “Honor Killings” and abuse of women and girls are everyday events. In Pakistan, women and girls suffer human rights violations at the hands of the state and, in the absence of appropriate government action, in the community, including but not restricted to “honor” killings, forced marriages, rape and domestic violence.

Say NO to Honor KillingMost of the victims are defenseless women and they are tortured, grievously assaulted and many times just murdered. Poor and uneducated women must struggle daily for basic rights, recognition, and respect. They live in a culture that defines them by the male figures in their lives, even though these women are often the breadwinners for their families.

A fundamentalist Patriarchal society sees no need to empower their female citizens, denying them equal civil and social rights; their justice system are failing the victims by letting the perpetrators “off the hook” with inconclusive  court-cases with no concrete help, allowing the victims to continue to be harassed and threatened and being the ones to be persecuted.

This flagrant violation of the basic human right to exist and live without fear must be publicly and forcefully confronted by the international community.

Join us by signing this petition in the name of the International community, demanding a better life for these women and children.  Winning this campaign depends on our ability to call on thousands of supporters like you. After signing this petition, please share with your friends and follow us on Facebook.

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