Working since last two decades, Madadgaar, an offshoot of Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid (LHRLA) initially started with the support of UNICEF in Karachi. It is Pakistan’s first Helpline for children & women suffering from violence, abuse and exploitation. Madadgaar helpline had the honor of being the first helpline of Pakistan for women and children, working for the last 13 years. During these 13 years, it received more than 119,600 calls and dealt with at least 20,700 cases of violence against women and children. It had one of the largest databank on violence against children and women.

The daily data is collected under 71 different categories out of which 16 are computerized. Initially this helpline worked in Sindh province only but then in collaboration with Plan International Pakistan it extended the net of its services to the whole of Pakistan with three focal points in Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta under the banner of Madadgaar National Helpline. However, the three focal points are now defunct and all cases are reported to the Karachi office, and then delegated to the referral networks for immediate provision of help.

In Pakistan the situation of human rights was in a state of pity and the cases of violence and abuse were endemic and increasing with every passing day. Women and girls were bearing the brunt as there was no respite to their victimization in both rural and urban areas of the country. The cases of physical, psychological and sexual violence of women and girls were on steep increase. Similarly, the rights of children were also being grossly violated which needed urgent attention and redressal by the government as well as civil society.

These children should be raised in a protective, encouraging and nurturing environment where the duty bearers are responsive to their rights without any gender discrimination. Children should enjoy access to education opportunities in an environment that supports life-long learning and development.

Keeping these issues in mind which were prevailing over our society primordially and still loom large over our society, in 1989, about 50 lawyers realizing a need for both correctional and preventive actions got together under the leadership of Mr. Zia Ahmed Awan to establish a forum that could make legal aid affordable to and within reach of these marginalized sections of the society especially women and children. They started helping the people who were detained in jails, besides providing pro bono services to women and children victims of violence under the banner of Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid (LHRLA). Later, with the assistance of LHRLA, Pakistan’s first helpline for women and children Madadgaar was formed in collaboration with UNICEF, which now has become a national helpline with the assistance of Plan International Pakistan.

Madadgaar National Helpline provides telephonic counseling, face to face counseling to
Walk-in survivors, crisis intervention, guidance, legal advises and legal aid and referral
services to children and women. This is what Madadgaar stands for and will continue doing on a larger scale in the time to come.

Allocation and Installation of 4 digit unified code 1098 by the support of Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR).
Developed and strengthened the referral network on national level with around 2000 partner organizations to
facilitate the children and women in need of emergency.
Theater Festival to raise awareness on child sexual abuse recognized by UNESCAP.
Media Advocacy on human trafficking recognized by UNDP Regional Office, Delhi.
Child participation through Madadgaar Child Rights Clubs (MCRCs), documented & recognized by KZR.
Playing an active role on national as well as international level, Madadgaar has participated in different
seminars, conferences and workshops on international level.
Keeping in view the increasing trend of abuse against women and children in Pakistan, Successful Launch of
Madadgaar National Helpline was held with the help of focal points in Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta with its
head office in Karachi. Later it was only consolidated in Karachi to be more centralized, structured and
cost-effective, and cases relating to places outside Karachi are passed on to effective referral networks in those
areas.
Established Virtual Counseling to provide online counseling to clients across Pakistan.
Membership of Child Helpline International (CHI).
Established Madadgaar youth clubs by the name of “Madadgaar Youth Advocates” in different professional
Institutions for youth empowerment across Pakistan.

Working since last two decades, Madadgaar, an offshoot of Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid (LHRLA) initially started with the support of UNICEF in Karachi. It is Pakistan’s first Helpline for children & women suffering from violence, abuse and exploitation. Madadgaar helpline had the honor of being the first helpline of Pakistan for women and children, working for the last 19 years. During these 19 years, it received more than 223,000 calls and dealt with at least 47000 cases of violence against women and children. It had one of the largest databank on violence against children and women.

Initially this helpline worked in Sindh province only but then in collaboration with Plan International Pakistan it extended the net of its services to the whole of Pakistan with three focal points in Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta under the banner of Madadgaar National Helpline. However, the three focal points are now defunct and all cases are reported to the Karachi office, and then delegated to the referral networks for immediate provision of help. This is because Madadgaar has digitalized its function which have allowed for centralization of operations in Karachi, from where all cases are dealt.

In Pakistan the situation of human rights was in a state of pity and the cases of violence and abuse were endemic and increasing with every passing day. Women and girls were bearing the brunt as there was no respite to their victimization in both rural and urban areas of the country. The cases of physical, psychological and sexual violence of women and girls were on steep increase. Similarly, the rights of children were also being grossly violated which needed urgent attention and redressal by the government as well as civil society.

Keeping these issues in mind which were prevailing over our society primordially and still loom large over our society, in 1989, about 50 lawyers realizing a need for both correctional and preventive actions got together under the leadership of Mr. Zia Ahmed Awan to establish a forum that could make legal aid affordable to and within reach of these marginalized sections of the society especially women and children. They started helping the people who were detained in jails, besides providing pro bono services to women and children victims of violence under the banner of Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid (LHRLA). Later, with the assistance of LHRLA, Pakistan’s first helpline for women and children Madadgaar was formed in collaboration with UNICEF, which now has become a national helpline with its operations being coordinated from Karachi office.

Madadgaar National Helpline provides telephonic counseling, face to face counseling to walk-in survivors, crisis intervention, guidance, legal advises and legal aid and referral services to children and women.  We at Madadgaar believe in eradication of gender-based violence of every sort and making our society safe for women. This is what we stand for, and will keep doing with increasing passions!

Achievements of Madadgaar

• Allocation and Installation of 4 digit unified code 1098 by the support of Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR).
• Developed and strengthened the referral network on national level with around 2000 partner organizations to facilitate the children and women in need of emergency.
• Theater Festival to raise awareness on child sexual abuse recognized by UNESCAP.
• Media Advocacy on human trafficking recognized by UNDP Regional Office, Delhi.
• Child participation through Madadgaar Child Rights Clubs (MCRCs), documented & recognized by KZR.
• Playing an active role on national as well as international level, Madadgaar has participated in different seminars, conferences and workshops on international level.
• Madadgaar National Helpline was held with the help of focal points in Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta with its head office in Karachi. Later it was only consolidated in Karachi due to digitalization which allowed the provision of services to be more structured and cost-effective.
• Established Virtual Counseling to provide online counseling to clients across Pakistan.
• Founder and Current Member of Child Helpline International (CHI).
• Established Madadgaar youth clubs by the name of “Madadgaar Youth Advocates” in different professional Institutions for youth empowerment across Pakistan.
• Creation of Madadgaar App to provide more access to people.
• Interactive Website that gives complete information of the services, allows for online booking of appointment with the counselors, and also virtual counseling sessions.
• Modern means of communication that include more presence and availability of access on and through social Media.
• Internship programs bringing in students from various leading universities in Pakistan
• Removing social taboos and stereotypes regarding issues such as reproductive rights and mainstreaming of such Rights.
• Pact with SAARC countries, for developing of South Asian association of helpline. 1098 code mode uniform in four of these member countries, including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
• Around 2000 referral partner organizations dealing with different fields of women and children protection.
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