Entrant Company
AND THE NERVE!
Program
Traditional Mediums
Advertiser Category
Health Awareness & Advocacy
Medium
Partnerships & Collaborations
In Pakistan, 97% women are coerced to give up their right to divorce in the Nikahnama, a contract signed at the time of marriage. While religion allows them to stipulate multiple demands in the contract, culture dictates that their rights be denied- with male guardians gate-keeping the process and crossing-out critical clauses like the right to divorce. This practice is rampant despite being illegal.
Right at the onset of wedding season, when all brides-to-be (and female members of their families) were closely watching the latest trends in bridal fashion, CFHR partnered with Fahad Hussayn to announce the launch of a bridal jewelry collection. But it came with a catch- it was laden with thorns and unwearable. The craft of the jewelry was based on the Urdu word 'kaante' (meaning both thorn and cross on paper), working as a haunting double entendre: a reminder to women that every kaanta (cross) they allowed on their Nikahnama, could be a potential kaanta (thorn) in their marital life. The film ended in a helpline that brides-to-be could call for legal assistance.
Taking the campaign beyond symbolism to education, we partnered with an existing wedding podcast, dissecting the complexities of marriage contracts in a 45 minute episode.
To ensure this message reached the grassroots, we collaborated with Depilex salons, airing the helpline across 85+ locations nationwide, engaging brides in a place where they wait longest right before their wedding: the makeup station.
We also sent thorn-laden bangles to parliamentarians, so they could help enforce the existing law.
As a result, CFHR received +64% calls, assisted +620% cases (vs last year), and received their first-ever right-to-divorce cases after two years of failed efforts.