Founding Bedari, A Crisis Center in Pakistan
Dr Fouzia Saeed has been working on violence against women for over 25 years. While studying at the University of Minnesota in the United States, she volunteered at crisis centers, receiving training as an advocate and counselor at Chrysalis. She offered helpline support, referred survivors to legal, medical, and shelter services, and facilitated support groups at the Minnesota Intervention Center. She later conducted a research study on survivors’ satisfaction with law enforcement agencies. Her recommendations were presented to senior judges and police officials, many of which were adopted.
After returning to Pakistan, she joined the Women’s Action Forum (WAF) and formed the Committee on Violence Against Women under its Islamabad chapter in 1988. The committee conducted analysis, organized workshops, and published what became one of the first booklets on violence against women in Pakistan. At the time, the issue was not widely discussed, but the commitment among activists was strong.
Bedari was the first crisis center in Pakistan specifically addressing violence against women. It combined direct crisis counseling and referral services with self-growth programs and community awareness efforts. Support groups helped women build solidarity and empowerment. Bedari quickly became widely recognized and supported across Islamabad. Community members contributed generously, from shopkeepers offering discounts to police bringing vulnerable women to the center.
Founded in 1992 by Dr Fouzia Saeed and Dr Ambreen Ahmad, Bedari’s first executive body included Dr Sara Tirmazi, Shazreh Husain, and Roshaneh Zafar. The organization emerged from a support group facilitated by Dr Ahmad, evolving over a year into a community-driven model for change. Their mission was to create a society free from violence, where men and women live in healthy relationships.
Bedari launched with a major workshop attended by over 200 people, sparking open dialogue and deep community engagement. Participants were divided into smaller groups to explore themes like direct crisis support, awareness raising, and personal empowerment. Theatre was also explored as a tool for change. The community was strategically engaged from across social, professional, and class lines to ensure broad representation.
The result was a two-tiered program structure: immediate crisis intervention and long-term societal transformation. While most members volunteered their time and in-kind support, funds were raised to rent a safe space and hire core staff. The house symbolized a safe microcosm of the inclusive and respectful society Bedari aspired to build.
Contribution and Approach of Bedari
The most significant contribution of Bedari was its unique approach. It was the first organization in Islamabad solely focused on violence against women while operating as a fully community-owned initiative. Both men and women, from all walks of life, actively participated in achieving its mission—fostering a deeply inclusive environment and a genuine sense of ownership.
Work on Violence Against Women
Dr Fouzia Saeed began her work on violence against women in the United States, providing counseling, advocacy, and conducting research. She brought this expertise to Pakistan, where she continued her activism through the Women Action Forum and by founding Bedari. Her work has laid the groundwork for a broader national conversation on gender-based violence.
Committee on Violence Against Women, Women Action Forum (WAF) 1988
Dr Saeed’s work with WAF included forming a task force to investigate the roots of violence against women and promote targeted action. The task force organized workshops, produced early awareness materials, and inspired further activism, laying a foundational role in Pakistan’s movement to address gender violence.