Bawar (Trust)

Produced by the Pakistani office of the international NGO Equal Access, "Bawar" (Trust) tells the powerful story of two girls, the young Paghunda and college student Palwasha, who fight against blatant inequity and the prejudice of their family patriarch for their right to receive an education. Offset by the tragic backdrop of a father grieving for his murdered daughter, Bawar highlights the struggles that still permeate the female experience throughout rural Pakistan. The harsh reality they face is reflected in the title, "Trust," which imparts a subtle play on words that defies literal meaning by portraying the common lack of trust in women by men, keeping them housebound, illiterate, and unable to reach other influences in life.

The film strives to create a positive change in attitudes and behaviors around girls’ and women’s rights in Pakistan and was presented as part of a larger project by Equal Access aimed at strengthening the abilities of young girls to participate in positive and empowering activities, such as sports. Bawar has been broadcast nationally and has received tremendous response from Pakistani audiences, especially by viewers in the targeted Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and KP province. Sardar Hussain of the Peshawar High Court said, “Keeping in mind the perspective of rural area’s people, this telefilm will provide those people thousands of reasons to understand the importance of education and women’s empowerment. Equal Access Pakistan is doing a remarkable job by doing this, and very soon we will see the positive results.”