Report on “Understanding Marginalized Communities in Different Cultural Contexts” Launched

Cultural stigmas attached to sexual minorities can substantially reduce when education level of the stigmatized improves, though the general level of awareness is also important. The major findings of a research project ‘Understanding Marginalized Communities in Different cultural contexts: A Study of 8 Districts of Pakistan’ conducted by Department of Anthropology, Qauaid-i-Azam University, (QAU) with the support of OXFAM Novib were shared with the participants in a launching ceremony of report,

 While addressing the ceremony the Minister of State for Education, Professional Training, Interior and Narcotics, Muhammad Baligur-Ur-Rehman reiterated that government is taking serious measures and providing legal safeguards to protect the transgender, forced marriages and child abuse. The minister also addressed the issue of lad encroachment of the University and said that there will be zero tolerance towards land grabbers at QAU. “Steps have already been taken to resolve the land issue of the University and in future there will be noticeable improvement” he added. QAU, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Javed Ashraf in his address thanked the government for taking up QAU land’s issue.

 Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) and OXFAM Novib have just concluded 4.9 million rupees project titled ‘Understanding Marginalized Communities in Different cultural contexts. This project provided 8 MSc and MPhil students with financial support for their thesis work and also allocates 2.1 million rupees for upgrading the Anthropology Department. The project incharge was Dr. Waheed Iqbal Chaudhry. The other faculty who participated included Mr. Waqas Saleem, Ms. Aneela Sultana, Mr. Ilyas Bhatti, Mr. Anwar Moihuddin, Mr. Rao Nadeem Alam, and Mr. Ikram Badshah. The students whose research was supported include Munib, Ramesh, Aqib, Kinza, Bushra, Naveed, and Yasir.