Shams-un-Nisa Qudsia belongs to Tehsil Sadiqabad in Rahim Yar Khan district.

She got her education from Islamia University Bahawalpur. Her father is a doctor and husband, a lawyer. She founded Oriental Women Organization with the help of a group of ladies in 1999. The then District Nazim of Rahim yar Khan Makhdoom Syed Ahmed Mehmud also supported the cause. In the year 1999 her husband took a case of two women illegally confined by a Wadera and secured their freedom. In another incident Police in Rahim Yar Khan refused to help a woman who had escaped threat of honour killing. The events moved Ms. Shams-un-Nisa Qudisa who realized that an organization was needed to protect the rights of women in that remote part of the country, as well. She is still committed to her passion of helping women in distress and serves the cause of humanity

Legal Status Oriental Women Organization (OWO) is a non-governmental nonprofitable, nonreligious & non-political organization. It was established in 1999 and subsequently was registered in 2003, with the Directorate of Social Welfare Punjab, under the NGOs Registration Act 1961. Mission It endeavors for attitudinal change to facilitate sustainable development, sociological justice and equity in the society. Objectives To build up confidence among women for their financial empowerment. To eradicate all kinds of physical and mental violence. To promote a participatory and pluralistic civil society that employs democratic process as non-violent practices To increase citizens awareness about their civic, social and economic rights To broaden the base of social justice and economic equality in the society To undertake initiatives to overcome social, economical and environmental problems To undertake human resource development through facilitating capacity/skills development opportunities

Major Partners The following organizations/ventures have been partners with OWO: OXFAM, WHO, DTCE, MACWAC, NCHD OWO focuses on two thematic areas: Human Rights and Peace, which comprise of women's Empowerment, Women's and Children Rights, Legal Aid to Women and Violence Against Women Community Development, that primarily include Non Formal Basic Education (Primary Level), Adult Literacy and Health

Impacts on Society: OWO is proud to impart primary school education to some 3,000 children in its home schools, since 2003. Out of these with the efforts of OWO near about 45 girls and boys got scholarship for higher education. Passing result of these schools have been 78%. Presently, OWO has strength of 1200 students in its 40 home schools, including 30 NFBE and 10 ALC. OWO also running 2 computer centers and 5 vocational centers in which some 500 students getting their technical education. Beside all these OWO organized 9 Vocational and Basic health care 25-days training workshops in rural areas in which 360 ladies got the Vocational training. OWO organized 2 national level 3-day Exhibitions in which more than 500 visitors visited the event daily. From 2000 till today more than 1000 women have been provided advice, counseling, and legal aid from its Support Centers in Punjab to minimize incidences of violence on women.

As wider advocacy and awareness raising on Democratic Governance, Women's Political Empowerment and the political education programmed from 2000 till today, OWO imparted education to some 5,000 people on democracy, political empowerment, local government, election management, leadership skills, women's rights, role of councilors, role of parliaments and parliamentarians, voters education, etc. which resulted in activating local women to participate in mainstream politics. Around 100 women were elected as councilors after their capacity building on election management and leadership skills.

Geographical Outreach

Punjab
Bahawalpur Gujranwala Jhang Rawalpindi Chakwal Lahore Multan Muzaffargah Pakpattan Rahim Yar Khan

Sindh
Ghotki Kundh Kot

Rajanpur

Sargodha

Management Policies
OWO is run by members of Executive Body; who formulate its policies and oversee implementation of the programs. The members of Executive Body meet every three months to discuss issues and progress made during a quarter. Administratively OWO is divided into program and finance department. The program manager and finance manager, both are answerable to the executive director for progress of their respective departments. The organization conducts weekly and monthly staff meetings to monitor progress. It also conducts external evaluation to determine the progress made, identify gaps and explore opportunities for enhancing performance.
Profession
Development Consultant Social Activist Journalist, and social activist Social Activist Educationist Social Activist

Name
Shams-un-Nisa Qudsia Shareefan BiBi Hira Batool Tehmina Perhar Mumtaz Begum Sadef Shehzad

Gender F F F F F F

Designation
President & Founder Voice President General Secretary Finance Secretary Joint Secretary Information Secretary

Networking and Linkages

OWO believes in partnership with civil society organizations, groups and concerned individuals. The following networks have been formed with the purpose of maintaining regular partnership with stakeholders. OWO has established an advisory group of Advocates having expertise in Gender issues and other Legal matters concerned with female, in this group 75 Advocates are members from 7 Districts of Punjab. They also provide free legal aid to vulnerable and help the female councilors for submission their papers for Local Government Elections. OWO has established a Civil Society Organizations Group which consists of 30 NGOs from 5 Districts of Punjab. OWO has established a Students Network those belong from 8 Districts of Punjab The Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) Network established by the Anti Narcotics Force in 2007 has 300 NGOs as its members from all over Pakistan. OWO is the member of this network. OWO made a Media group that consists on male and female journalists from print media and electronic media to promote rights of the people. This group consists of 50 members from different districts of Punjab. OWO also a member of the network of Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF). From all over Pakistan more than 400 NGOs and more than 5000 journalist are the members of this forum.

Training Programs

Issues Covered in Orientation and Training Programs

Violence against women Poverty and gender Home business for women Preparing the export quality material at home for women Packing and marketing of home business for women Capacity building Muslim Family Laws Role and responsibilities of a Councilor Citizens community boards Social Development in Devolution Plan Project cycle management Financial management of the projects Networking with local government institutions Community organization Communication skills

Presentation skills KAP (Knowledge, Attitude and Practice) Hadood Ordinance now converted into Protection of Women Act 2006 Legal literacy Gender issues Ethics and value of journalism Women's political rights Democracy, elections and right to vote Women and reserved seats Political status of women in Pakistan Code of Conduct for Election 2002 Role of women councilors Women issues in politics

Achievements OWO is a certified organization. It holds the certificates on Standard Management Procedures by the TVO; it also holds certificates from National Council of Social Welfare and Ministry of Women Development Government of Pakistan, under the NGO Certification Programs. These certificates are acknowledged by all donor agencies and Government of Pakistan. The certification process reviews OWOs management, monitoring and evaluation, governance and financial procedures and found them operational and transparent.