Collaborative strategy to end gender-based violence stressed

Islamabad

Government officials, politicians and civil society activists stressed for collaborative strategy to end gender-based violence (GBV) in the country.

They said that enough pro-women laws have been formulated but there is no effective implementation of these laws in the country. They appreciated the KP government’s initiative for police reforms and insisted to implement in its true letter and spirit.

The issues were discussed at a seminar on ‘Preventing Gender-based Violence (GBV) through Democratic Violence’ organised by Rozan, as the secretariat of Pakistan Forum on Democratic Police (PFDP), an alliance of civil society organisations working to promote the agenda of democratic policing and police reforms.

Member Parliament and Secretary Women Caucus (WPC) Shaista Pervez Malik, Former Inspector General Police Kamal Uddin Tipu, President Islamabad High Court Bar Association Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Psychiatrist and Adviser Rozan Dr. Ambreen Ahmed and Managing Director of Rozan Babar Bashir spoke at the occasion. The seminar participants paid tribute to the sacrifices of police to eliminate terrorism from the country.

Speaking on this occasion, Dr. Ambreen explained the reasons of gender-based violence and highlighted importance of developing understanding on the dynamics of GBV and their capacities of police in order to sensitively deal with the victims and survivors of violence.

Tariq Jahangiri highlighted the loopholes in the present legal framework to deal with GBV and highlighted the need of improving judicial system and relevant laws to protect human/women rights.

Kamal Uddin insisted that the government should realise that police need to be depoliticised and appreciated the effort of KP for progressing towards police reforms. He highlighted the importance of incorporating democratic policing principals in order to strengthen democracy.

The PFDP suggested that police station should be made the core of all the police reforms so that the general public can benefit from it. The PFDP also recommended incorporating sections in the police law for improving the working conditions and facilities for lower cadre police personnel, especially women personnel. The PFDP also recommended to incorporate in it special measures to train police officer to sensitively deal with women, trans-genders and minorities.

Members of the FPDP who attended the seminar from across the country included Rozan, SPO, Shehri, CPDI, HRCP, Aurat Foundation, Shirkat Gah, Individual land, Khwendo Kor, HUJRA, SEHER, CYAAD, Cholistan Development Council, GIZ, Coffey International and UNODC.