WVIP- Shelter for Victims of Persecution

“…..by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”. John 13:35

Farrukh Harrison- Executive Director wvip

(ISLAMABAD) - World Vision in Progress WVIP is a nonprofit organization, workings based on this commandment.

WVIP is fighting against social injustice, constitutional and religious discrimination, and force conversion with Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan, said WVIP chief.

Farrukh Harrison, Executive Director, World Vision in Progress- WVIP talked about this in a telephonic interview, on his return to the country few days back.

I remember, last month, he called me and shared his concern about the safety of a person facing Pakistan's blasphemy law. The young man, Ryan Stanten, is accused of blasphemy law 295- PPC from Karachi.

http://christianresponse.org/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=1174

http://britishpakistanichristian.blogspot.com/2012/10/update-on-teenage-blasphemy-victim-ryan.html

Then he was not in contact and I remained busy in my routine work. A few days later, I called him but he didn’t reply and left massage on Facebook (social media) for me that he is not in Pakistan and will contact me once he is back.

On his return to the country, he told me that the purpose of his visit was to secure the life of the accused in blasphemy case.

Sadly, he says violence against religious minorities remains prevalent in Pakistani society. They are treated with second class citizen status and their women are raped while abuses go unreported and society turns a largely blind eye. As a result, many victims not only suffer physically, but are also traumatized and left with feelings of hopelessness, isolation and humiliation.

WVIP continues to help victims by working with them to report their abuse to the relevant authorities. WVIP also provides the victims of abuse with basic items to meet their practical needs, and provide counseling to help them move beyond their traumatic experiences. It includes legal assistance on handling the case against the perpetrator and how to cope with the physical impact of the abuse.

The legal team works with victims of religious intolerance, rape and sexual abuse, trafficking, illegal detention, torture, domestic violence and other forms of oppression, as well as people facing charges of blasphemy under Pakistan’s notorious Blasphemy law, he added.

He went on to say that WVIP has dealt with many cases and has been working on cases involving the Hadood Ordinance, a law brought into existence under former military dictator Gen Zia ul Haq that led to hundreds of women victims of rape being accused of zina (extramarital sex) and consequently imprisoned. The perpetrators, meanwhile, often go unpunished.

Sadly, destitute women and children account for a high proportion of victims of oppression. Poor people in Pakistan generally have little or no awareness of their basic legal and human rights and WVIP provides the women and children with accommodation, food, clothes, recreational facilities, medical assistance, education and counseling sessions.

For further details visit: http://www.wvipnews.com/ 

About Shamim Masih

"I am Christian rights activist and freelancer Pakistani journalist specializing in writing about Christians rights for the different papers in the world. My aim is to create a peaceful environment in the society and to help eliminate Christian persecution through my writing as I bring the plight of these brave people under the spotlight of the whole world."

Shamim Masih was born in Sheikhopura's village and raised in Gujranwala, a city in Pakistan's Punjab province. He earned his Bachelors Degree from the University of the Punjab, Lahore majoring in English, Economics and Statistics; he also received a Masters Degree in Business Administration.

As a freelance writer and author, Shamim has written for different papers in the world; his expertise is in writing articles highlighting different social issues. He has served as freelance chief reporter and column writer in “Minority Times” in Islamabad, and a number of Shamim's articles have been published in local papers as well.

You can write to Shamim at this address: shamimpakistan@gmail.com