June 10, 2017 – Oxfam GB and UGOOD Signed an Agreement for “Youth in Difficult Circumstances-YDC Project” is a Cross-Sectoral Multi Country Program being implemented in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Netherland and Pakistan (Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi). Visibility and Voice of Transgender and Marginalized Male and Female through the use of Social and Print Media to share and strategize, knowledge and Skills of Marginalized Youth to Protect and Promote their Rights and build Capacity of Partner Organizations to work with Youth. 

YDC is a cross-sectoral multi country programme being implemented by UGOOD in Pakistan that seeks to contribute to the equal rights for the marginalized members of the society. it aims to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations, groups and networks of minority persons so that they can individually and/or collectively speak out on and challenge infringements of their human rights.

The programme proposes activities that will strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations, groups and networks of minority persons so that they can individually and/or collectively speak out on, and challenge infringements of their human rights. This includes intolerance, discriminatory practices and laws that prevent them from realizing all of their rights. Such a distinction is important in building awareness, planning and implementing networking efforts, solidarity building, and the advocacy besides lobbying for promoting the freedom of expression, movement, thought, opinion, and non- discrimination, as well as their right to equality before the law or access to justice. The programme will also work with human rights defenders, women’s rights and minority activists, lawyers and youth organizations towards an enabling environment to promote and support the rights of these minorities.

The purpose of the study was to provide a baseline to measure the programme results and change in the lives of the beneficiaries (young people who are facing marginalization from family and society) at the end of the project. It would provide a baseline to ascertain the cost effectiveness in the implementation of the programme (value for money) and also look at diverse aspects such as geographical spread (rural/urban), socio-economic factors (gender, access to communication resources, income levels and skills). Indirectly the baseline would not only provide pre-analysis of the situation of the existing issues pertinent to Trans groups in the country, but it would be contributing to data and research evidences needed for future advocacy, programme designing and programme implementation for these marginalized groups of the society.