To mark the 3rd anniversary of the project, AGEHI Resource Center-SACHET under its five year Advocacy project organized the 1st National FAD Advocacy Network (FADAN) workshop for its FAD focal points on 27th November 2004, with the following objectives in mind:

• To establish a link between women human rights violation and dowry violence.

• Identify the causes and consequences of gender in equalities-legal perspective.

• Develop an action plan for their respective communities to raise awareness and sensitization on the issues of human rights, gender equality, violence in the institutions of marriage and dowry and roles of different change agents (media, men, youth groups, clergy etc) in eradicating violence including dowry violence from the society.

The morning session of the workshop was attended by the FAD Focal points, which are students and social activists and were from diverse backgrounds. The morning session consisted of lectures by Barrister Shoiab Razzaq on Dowry Violence in the context of Human Rights: Legal Perspectives and Mr. Khalid Rehman Executive Director Institute of Policy Studies on Dowry, Religious: Social Perspectives along with screening of FAD TV Series.

The second half was more group work in which the focal points identified the issue, the problems faced by them and how they can overcome them, they also drafted the recommendations & declaration to be presented at the concluding session.

• Raising as one of the most important issue of the civil society

• Creating awareness through projects by various volunteers from different walks of life

• Targeting different areas to educate for change.

• Discussion for possible solutions for change in social structure

• Advocacy and counseling should be provided to the victims

• Gender studies should be included in the curriculum.

• A legal body should be formed to provide free legal advise.

• All the documents and acts which are the prerequisites for the enactment of laws against dowry on demand should be given preference at a upper level, so that we can produce comprehensive and compatible legislation to combat dowry related predicaments resulting violence in the society

• Considering the prevailing situation in the contemporary society efforts should be drawn from both ends, on the part of law enforcement agencies and public at large in spreading the awareness about the grievances of the issue which has caused a greater stress in the society.

• We at the end of this procession conclude before the concerned authorities that dowry related incidents and violence should be highlighted in accordance with its distinct identity to put an end to the sufferings of the people.

Silver Ribbon campaign is an initiative launched by FAD (Fight Against Dowry) a five year Advocacy project of AGEHI Resource Center-SACHET on 27th November 2004. The silver ribbon portrays the element of simplicity, austerity and courage against ills of dowry on demand.

People from different walks of life attended the concluding session of the National workshop. Dr. Faqir Hussain Secretary Law & Justice Commission was the chief guest of the Concluding Session. In the Concluding Session the recommendations and declaration were presented and later on panelist Dr. Batool Mazhar, Dr. Ansar Khan, Mr. Tariq Ghauri belonging from different backgrounds, shared their perspectives on the issue. This was followed by a question answer session.

Dr. Faqir Hussain Secretary Law & Justice Commission the chief guest of the concluding session in the end appreciated the efforts made by AGEHI Resource Center-SACHET against the evils of dowry and asked AGEHI Resource Center to submit the report with recommendations to the Law & Justice Commission, he further said that the draft on dowry act has been shared with the rest of the ministries and would be finalized in a year or two, he also shared his concerns on the issue with the participants.