PESHAWAR
The civil society organizations in collaboration with the provincial government launched a campaign to mark 16 Days of Activism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa aimed at ending violence against women.
Omar Asghar Khan Foundation leading the Aawaz II programme in collaboration with the Social Welfare and Women’s Empowerment Department, the KP Commission on the Status of Women, the provincial Child Protection & Welfare Commission, and the Ombudsperson Office for Protection of Women against Harassment at the Workplace have joined hands to actively mark the global campaign on the 16 Days of Activism by organising a Provincial Consultation on “Unite! Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women & Girls in KP.
Inaugurating the first session, Robin Haider, Secretary to the KPakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women, shared that the Domestic Violence Act 2021, the Office of the Ombudsperson for Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace, Child Protection and Welfare Commission KP, and the Commission itself stand as key government investments aimed at preventing gender-based violence against women and girls.
The integration of the Bolo Helpline with the 15 Police response number is a significant development in protecting women and girls from violence in the province.
Speaking on the role of the Ombudsperson Office in preventing gender-based violence, Rukhshanda Naz, Ombudsperson for Protection of Women against Harassment at the Workplace, shared that the office of the Ombudsperson had notified a Rapid Action Task Force to create awareness of the legal framework to prevent sexual harassment at the workplace and expedite the reporting of cases of sexual harassment.
Three help desks at the Peshawar office have been established to provide support to vulnerable groups in legal counselling, trauma counselling, and referrals, she added.
In her remarks on Aawaz II community engagement, Dr. Yasim Zaidi, Team Lead Aawaz II – British Council, shared, ‘the transformation we seek in our society demands a collective effort. By nurturing behavioral change and involving all stakeholders, we pave the way for a community where every
Participants of the event from, Abbottabad, Buner, Lower Dir, Malakand, Nowshera, and Peshawar recommended the appointment and training of staff in the health sector, police, education, and other services on dealing with women with disabilities, women from minority communities, and young women.
They also suggested sensitizing protection service providers on gender issues and response to gender-based violence, establishing GBV courts in merged districts, setting up women facilitation desks in district courts, expanding help lines to all districts, and widely disseminating information on available services for women and girls.
Mr. Ijaz Khan, Deputy Chief of the KP Child Protection and Welfare Commission and Chair of the Aawaz II Provincial Forum shared steps taken for the rights and protection of girls in KP.
Arifullah, Additional Secretary, Finance Department KP said, ‘Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, in the past three years, has invested Rs600 million for gender mainstreaming, Rs250 million for vocational and skill development, and more than Rs400 million to the KP Commission on the Status of Women to prevent gender-based violence in KP.
Responding to the recommendation of establishing Darulamans in each district of the province, Additional Secretary of Zakat, Usher, Social Welfare, Women Empowerment, and Special Education Department, Mr. Muhammad Farooq, and Deputy Director of Women Empowerment from Social Welfare Directorate KP shared that the government is establishing five new Darulamans in the province.
Aawaz II Programme works with local communities in KP and Punjab to promote the rights of children, women, youth, religious minorities, and other vulnerable groups to work towards a more inclusive, tolerant and peaceful Pakistan. Aawaz II is a programme managed by the British Council.
