With over a decade post Pakistani cinema revival, the contribution of women in media has been a significant one.....
women
With over a decade post Pakistani cinema revival, the contribution of women in media has been a significant one. Whether as actors, directors, producers or writers, they have been an integral part of content and have turned out to be successful as well. One of the names includes Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, who has always been associated with documentaries covering social issues related to women. Being a storyteller for the voiceless and the force that kick-starts change, the documentarian has seen the power in her own work and the impact it has had not only on the communities she’s covered and the topics she’s shed light on, but in the way that people have been forced to change legislation.
In the continuation of this, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy recently introduced her second short-film from the series ‘Aagahi’, an amalgamation of 14 short animated films produced by SOC Films.
The ‘Aagahi’ or awareness film series have been made to educate women about their legal rights in Pakistan. The first was launched in September 2018, educating women on how to file for an FIR. The second will focus on educating women about Domestic Violence and how and where to seek protection.
This specific episode has been divided into a series of two parts; the first of which explains what domestic violence is and how to identify different forms of abuse included in domestic violence such as physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse. Also, it informs viewers on how to seek protection against domestic violence. Moreover, it educates women on the various steps one can take to protect themselves: filing an FIR, seeking a protection order, visiting a medico-legal centre at a government hospital, or seeking refuge at a shelter if needed. The video also shares contact information of various helplines, counselling services, shelters, and legal support services available to survivors of domestic violence in Pakistan.
Each short-film has been conceptualised, produced and directed by SOC Films and is between 2 to 3 minutes long; and will cover the law, its interpretation and the safety that it provides to the victim. This will also include the legislation, as stated in the Pakistan Penal Code, and the various case laws, which have been passed or revised in the recent years.
One of Pakistan’s leading actresses, Aamina Sheikh has lent her voice for the series, which is also being shared free of cost with all news and media channels for dissemination across the country.
- Mubashir Ahmed
