By Agha Fakhur Hussain
The launch of the Aawaz II Provincial Forum – Sindh on 20 November 2025 marks a significant step toward building a governance system in which provincial policies are informed by the lived experiences of communities. Over the years, Sindh has invested in strengthening its human rights framework through legislation, commissions, and interdepartmental coordination. Yet one structural gap remained: the absence of a formal mechanism for community voices to systematically shape provincial policy. Aawaz II now fills that gap.
Supported by the FCDO, Aawaz II began nationally in 2018 as a programme focused on empowering marginalized groups, preventing violence, and strengthening inclusion. Its model—comprising Aawaz Aagahi Centres, Village Forums, District Forums, and youth change agents—has been widely recognised for its participatory, community-centred design. With its expansion into Sindh, Aawaz II is now active in five districts: Tharparkar, Umerkot, Badin, Sanghar, and Dadu, establishing 75 Village Forums and five District Forums.
These forums have quickly emerged as trusted platforms where communities raise concerns related to child marriage, domestic violence, child labour, human trafficking, minority discrimination, and early warning signs of local conflict. Previously, these issues rarely reached provincial institutions unless they escalated into crises. The Provincial Forum changes that dynamic by linking grassroots insights directly with policymaking spaces.
Why Sindh Needs This Forum
Sindh has important coordination structures, including the Multi-Sectoral Coordination Committee (MSCC) on gender-based violence and its technical working groups. However, these structures are not designed to systematically collect and channel community intelligence. The gap between local realities and provincial decision-making has long hindered early detection, prevention, and targeted policy response.
The Aawaz II Provincial Forum introduces precisely what is missing:
Upward participation, ensuring information flows from village → district → province;
Evidence-based inputs feeding directly into MSCC and departmental policymaking;
Policies grounded in real community experiences;
Strengthened protection systems, with improved referrals and early detection of risks.
This is not a duplication of existing mechanisms but a reinforcement—adding structured community participation to the province’s protection and rights-based architecture.
Core Thematic Areas
The programme’s work in Sindh centres on four thematic pillars:
1. Gender-Based Violence & Harmful Norms
Aawaz II mobilises communities to challenge discriminatory practices and prevent violence, reinforcing ongoing provincial efforts to improve GBV response mechanisms.
2. Early and Forced Marriage
Implementation of the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act (2013) still faces gaps. By enabling reporting, facilitating referrals, and increasing awareness, Aawaz II strengthens government action at the local level.
3. Social Inclusion of Marginalized Groups
Women, youth, persons with disabilities, transgender persons, and religious minorities remain underrepresented in decision-making. Aawaz II ensures their participation in forums at all levels, aligning closely with the mandate of the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC).
4. Citizen–State Engagement
Aawaz Aagahi Centres act as accessible hubs linking citizens with police, health, social welfare, labour, and other essential services, addressing a long-standing gap in community access to state institutions.
Government Commitment
The Government of Sindh and SHRC have expressed strong support for integrating the Forum’s outputs into provincial processes. Quarterly thematic briefs, district insights, and follow-up matrices generated by Aawaz II will be formally reviewed and fed into MSCC discussions and reform agendas. This approach complements ongoing provincial initiatives such as strengthening child protection units, enhancing GBV response systems, and implementing the Human Rights Action Plan.
Beyond Policy: Strengthening Social Cohesion
In a context where misinformation, intolerance, and social tensions can escalate quickly, the Aawaz II model offers a preventive approach. Community forums create safe spaces for dialogue, promote inclusion, and help resolve disputes before they grow into conflict.
Conclusion
The launch of the Aawaz II Provincial Forum is more than a programme milestone; it institutionalises a channel through which community voices can shape provincial laws, systems, and reforms. With strong collaboration between government institutions, civil society partners, and community forums, Sindh has taken an important step toward a more inclusive, responsive, and rights-respecting governance model.
