Community

Partnership between the PPR Foundation and the Médecins du Monde

The PPR Foundation develops partnerships with national and international NGOs fighting violence against women and promoting women’s empowerment. A Selection Committee examines several times a year the project proposals and decides the grants, up to €70,000. Over this amount, the decision is taken by the Board of Directors. The partnership with Médecins du Monde NGO has been validated on January, 29, 2009.

Médecins du Monde Programme aims at refurnishing and refitting shelters for womens victims of domestic violence in Punjab area, in Pakistan. Though the actual extent of domestic violence remains unknown due to under-registration of cases, it is estimated that 70% to 90% of women in Pakistan have been facing at least once in their lives physical, psychological or sexual abuse*.According to Aurat Foundation’s Annual Report 2008, a total of 7,571 cases of violence against women were recorded al l over Pakistan that year, one fourth of which were murders and “honour” killings.

Médecins du Monde is establishing a comprehensive care for women victims of violence and their children within 34 public shelter homes of Punjab. This comprehensive support includes medical, legal and psychological aid as well as educational and social services. The program aims at raising awareness of the general population towards shelter homes and to decrease the stigmatization towards their residents.

“I was beaten up by my husband for more than a year. I left my house to my father’s. Instead of helping me, he told me to go back. I didn’t want to go home and spend my whole life in that hell. A neighbour told me about Dar-Ul-Aman (shelter) and guided me how to go there and seek help. This filled me hope so I left my father’s house and went to Jhang Dar-Ul-Aman”, explains one of the beneficiary, 22 years old.

Due to women’s economic dependence, restricted mobility and high family or community pressure, the very decision to leave the household and look for protection is a difficult, sometimes dangerous, step. What‘s more, the lack of information on rights and available facilities hinder access to proper care.
Information campaigns resulted in a very-significant increase of women seeking refuge and support in the Dar-Ul-Amans.
In these shelters, women can now benefit from medical care, psychological counselling and legal help and a secure place to make their own decisions. In 2009, the PPR Corporate Foundation granted €80,000 to the project.

Read more about the PPR Foundation