Organizational Profile:

Name: MMWWO (Mukhtar Mai Women Welfare Organization)
Year of Establishment: 2004.
Registration: Social Welfare Dept., Government of Pakistan, Act 1961
Address: Meerwala, Tehsil Jattoi, District Muzaffargarh, Punjab Pakistan
Tel: +92-66-2001236 / Mobile: +92-300-7484261
E-mail: mukhtarmaiwwo@gmail.com, info@mukhtarmaiwwo.org
Web: www.mukhtarmaiwwo.org

Organizational Background:

Women’s legal and social status is Pakistan has had a turbulent history. From honor killing to acid throwing and gang rapes, women in Pakistan have had to pay with their lives and bodies for alleged crimes violating their family or tribe’s co called honor.

Many people might remember the brutal incident with Mukhtar Mai who, in June 2002, was gang-raped on the orders of council of tribal elders from her village Meerwala, Tehsil Jattoi Pakistan. She was meant to be so shamed that she would commit suicide, but instead she found the courage to overcome her disgrace and refused to remain silent. She opted to fight for a better one, for both herself and women facing injustice and discrimination. Mukhtar Mai took the compensation money after very lengthy and brave court battle against her assailants and built the Girls Schools in the village (Meerwala), which is one of the remote rural villages of Southern Punjab of Pakistan and is deprived of basic health, education, clean water and infrastructure facilities. The school was the first light of hope for the poor and illiterate girls of the area. Mukhtar dedicated her self to reduce illiteracy and give power and awareness to women. Later (the friends of Mukhtar) realized the importance of an organization and felt that in order to fight for women rights and to fulfill the dream of women empowerment; they must have to organize their efforts. In 2003, (MMWWO) Mukhtar Mai Women Welfare Organization was founded in the leadership of Mukhtar Mai who is a symbol of victim hood, but is more a symbol of struggle for women in Pakistan and all over the world.