INTRODUCTION

About Us

Dastak is a center for access to justice for women, girls, children, and all individuals whose rights are violated on the basis of gender. Guided by its mission to ensure safety and justice, Dastak provides comprehensive protection and support services in situations of crisis. These include emergency shelter for women and girls, legal aid, and other critical interventions to ensure their protection and rehabilitation. In addition to direct services, Dastak engages in advocacy and training to strengthen systems, practices, and procedures for the prevention of violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect. The institution has pioneered and championed the concept of providing Protection with Dignity©️, applying it across all its policies and activities.

EVOLUTION

Since 1990

1990
Beginning of a Commitment

Dastak started as a shelter project by Advocate Hina Jilani of AGHS Legal Aid Cell, a Lahore–based human rights organisation.
1996
Project to Institution

Dastak became an independent institution and was registered as a charitable trust. Its crisis management services continued to be offered jointly with AGHS.
2010
Expanded its Mandate

Started only as a shelter, Dastak added advocacy and capacity building to its mandate.
2015
Elected New Chairperson

After the passing of Dastak’s founding Chair Tahira Mazhar Ali, Neelam Hussain was elected as the new Chairperson of the Board.
2016
Single Window Operation

With support from Oxfam and BMZ Germany, Dastak shifted its operations to a self-owned, purpose built premises bringing its crisis management, shelter and advocacy services under one roof. Previously, its activities were split between AGHS and Dastak.
2017
Child Rights Unit

Dastak added children as a focus to its protection activities and took over the Child Rights Unit (CRU), previously functioning under the AGHS Legal Aid Cell.
2021
Center for Access to Justice

Today Dastak operates as a center for access to justice for women, girls, children and all individuals facing violation of their rights on the basis of gender.
2023
Dastak certified by the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy (PCP)

Dastak certified by the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy (PCP)
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2024
Dastak Registered as a Society
Dastak converted from a Charitable Trust to a Society and is now registered under the Societies Registration Act,1860