Peshawar, Pakistan – 18th-19th July, 2023 – This highly anticipated groundbreaking event organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the National Institute of Psychology (NIP), Quaid-i-Azam University, took place on July 18th and 19th, 2023, at Serena Hotel in Peshawar, Pakistan. Prof Dr. Rubina Hanif (Director, NIP), Dr. Humaira Jami (Assistant Professor, NIP) from National Institute of Psychology and Dr. Marsela Nyawara, Dr. Shahid Irfan, and Dr. Gul Ghuttai Khalid were coordinating representatives from IOM for the event; respectively. Eminent scholars from academia and esteemed International NGOs and Government Institutes (CISMS, UNDP, National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights ABPAW, UNHCR, Commissionerate of Afghan Refugees. Ministry of State for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety and International Medical Corps) joined hands together to unlock the wealth of knowledge and kick-started comprehensive conversations in panel discussions, providing fertile ground for practice based solutions to emerge. Director NIP, Prof. Dr. Rubina Hanif took the stage to share her profound insights and implored all the international organizations present in the event to explore and implement practice based culturally informed policies and intervention plans that involve all the relevant stakeholders to address the difficulties faced by Afghan Migrant Community. Our Guest of Hounor Dr. Tehsin Fatimha (Director Operations, Commissionerate of Afghan Refugee),  and Chief Guest Mr. Mahmood Aslam (Health Secretary KPK) provided helpful insights and event was ended at note of commitment for strengthening displaced Afghan community after shields distribution.
In-lieu to the International Conference on “Fostering Empowerment Through Psychological Care, Safety and Protection Among Displaced Afghan Children, Youth and Women” International Organization for Migration and National Institute of Psychology, Quaid-i-Azam University arranged training workshops for Psychological Care, Safety and Protection of displaced Afghan children, youth, and women on the 18th of July, 2023. Training workshops was coordinated by Dr. Nelofar Kiran Rauf (Assistant Professor, NIP) and Dr. Arooj Mujeeb (Lecturer, NIP). Training sensitized the audience regarding vulnerability of displaced Afghans including physical, psychological, emotional, socio-economic, and sexual violence through power and vulnerability walk activity including various scenarios where the safety and protection of the displaced people can be at risk within the host community. Training workshops included five sessions on Gender-based violence, mental health issues, assessment of the risk factors and vulnerabilities, as well as indigenous interventions for the target community. Mr. Amir Hamza (Senior Project Assistant Protection, IOM), Prof. Dr. Rubina Hanif (Director, NIP) and Dr. Nelofar Kiran Rauf (Assistant Professor, NIP) trained the trainers for identification of violence and psychological issues, protective and risk factors, indigenous tools for assessment, as well as customized interventions including narrative therapy, family therapy and Behavior Cognitive Therapy.