Sharmeen Obaid Chiony’s brainchild SOC Films launched “Inheritance outreach project” with the aim to educate and safeguard women’s rights to property in accordance with the Pakistani Law. Around 5,500 women and 1,500 men from over 30 districts and cities participated in the Project particularly from remote areas across the country.

SOC Films Outreach teams using their mobile cinema on wheels conducted sessions and open discussions in different colleges and communities to raise awareness surrounding women’s inheritance rights with an emphasis on the more remote regions of the country. Screenings of animated films on women’s right to access property and inheritance were held for people from diverse religious backgrounds, who were unfamiliar with the way property was divided according to their religious beliefs. The project provides free legal aid for women in collaboration with the Sindh Legal Aid Call Centre.

SOC Films in collaboration with The Legal Aid Society (LAS) and National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) launched their latest animation series, “Inheritance Rights of Women according to Pakistani Law” with the release of the first short film, “Inheritance Laws”. This animation series comprises nine distinct animated films each in eight regional languages focusing on enhancing women’s knowledge of fundamental rights and legal remedies. In addition, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between LAS and the NCSW for the provision of legal awareness among vulnerable women at risk of discrimination, abuse and other human right violations across Pakistan.

Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy is the only female director to have been awarded two Academy Awards by the age of 37. Since 2001, she has made over two dozen multi award films in over 16 countries around the world. Her films include Student Athlete, Girl in the river, Song of Lahore, Saving Face, Peace Keepers and Transgenders: Pakistan’s Open Secret. In 2012, Time Magazine included Sharmeen in their annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. That same year the Pakistan Government awarded her with highest civil honor “Hilal -e–Imtiaz ”. In 2013, the Canadian government awarded her a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her work in the field of documentary films and the World Economic Forum honored her with a Crystal Award at their annual summit in Davos. In 2017 the International Center for Journalists awarded her the Knight International Journalism Award for her work that led to legislative change.