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ISLAMABAD, Nov 25 (APP):The Federal Ombudsperson Secretariat for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH), under the leadership of the Federal Ombudsperson Fauzia Viqar, has launched its nationwide 16 Days of Activism Campaign which is a global campaign against gender based violence from November 25 to December 10, every year; “Hum Badlen Ge Soch”, aimed at transforming attitudes and societal norms that allow workplace harassment and gender-based discrimination to persist in Pakistan.
Addressing national and local media at today’s press conference in Islamabad, Fauzia Viqar emphasized that combating gender-based violence requires more than awareness; it demands a shift in mindsets, behaviors, and institutional cultures.
“Real change begins not only in law, but in thought — in how we view women’s rights, dignity, and equal participation. ‘Hum Badlen Ge Soch’ is a call to action for every citizen, every institution, every workplace to step beyond tolerance and adopt zero tolerance,” she stated.
She emphasized that workplace harassment persists in Pakistan not due to a lack of legislation, but because enabling attitudes continue to silence survivors and protect perpetrators. Global indicators further support this urgency. Pakistan ranks 148 out of 148 countries on the Global Gender Gap Index 2025, with significant gaps in economic participation and political empowerment.
While 77.8% of global legal frameworks promoting women’s equality are in place, the impact remains limited when discriminatory mindsets go unchallenged. FOSPAH’s campaign responds directly to this challenge, pushing beyond compliance and awareness to societal transformation.
FOSPAH continues to expand its reach to ensure justice, dignity, and safety for women across workplaces in Pakistan.
Under Fauzia Viqar’s tenure since March 2023, FOSPAH has received 3,078 workplace harassment complaints, disposed of 2,736 cases, and kept only 292 cases under process, reflecting rapid and accessible case management. Additionally, in 2025 alone, more than 500 awareness sessions and trainings have been conducted nationwide, while 1,177 property rights complaints have been received since 2020. These numbers showcase increasing public confidence in FOSPAH’s mandate and effectiveness.
The “Hum Badlen Ge Soch” campaign will feature youth engagement through art exhibitions, mass awareness drives, workplace and university dialogues, community mobilization efforts, and media partnerships to amplify the message of zero tolerance for harassment.
The initiative calls on government institutions, private organizations, civil society, academia, and the media to join the movement and act as allies in dismantling harmful norms.
“Hum Badlen Ge Soch is not a slogan. It is a collective responsibility — a promise that together we will end harassment, break silence, and build workplaces where dignity is non-negotiable,” Fauzia Viqar affirmed.