“The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is establishing facilities to help survivors of gender-based violence learn skills that will help them become more self-reliant.” This was stated by Deputy Secretary, Social Welfare & Women’s Empowerment, Ms. Warda Latif at the consultation on “Protection and Response Mechanism for Gender-Based Violence Survivors” organised by Aawaz II programme on 8 June 2023 in Peshawar.
The event brought together more than sixty women, persons with disabilities, transgender persons, and religious minorities from across the province, including the districts of Peshawar, Nowshehra, Buner, Lower Dir, Abbottabad, Mardan, Malakand and Kohat. The Deputy Secretary explained that 125 industrial training centres have been upgraded to provide advanced skills for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) survivors, linking them directly to the market, which is a substantial step towards reintegrating violence survivors in society. The Deputy Secretary also gave details of efforts to expand and improve Dar-ul-Aman and extend the outreach of the Bolo Helpline.
“Aawaz II has its presence in 14 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with a focus on addressing issues related to gender-based violence, child marriages and social cohesion. The programme has established volunteer forums at village, district and provincial levels which link service providers with the community to respond to their needs directly” shared by Ms Rafat Yasmin, Gender and Inclusion Advisor, Aawaz II.
“District Committees on the Status of Women (DCSW) have been nominated in all districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), but their official notification is pending due to the need for amending the KPCSW (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women) law to align the DCSW with KP’s local government law,” stated Ms. Amna Durrani, Director Programmes, KP Commission on the Status of Women.
Mr. Zikriya, Programme Analyst Gender/GBV from UNFPA Peshawar Office said that government departments like Police, Health and Social Welfare must have strong coordination at multiple levels to ensure effective delivery of services for protection and response to gender-based violence. UNFPA is supporting the Social Welfare Department in developing a database for Dar-ul-Aman and Bolo Helpline.
Participants from 14 districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) shared their challenges in accessing government facilities.
Speaking about the importance of consultation, Ms. Rashida Dohad, Executive Director of Omar Asghar Khan Foundation that is Aawaz II’s lead partner in KP, shared that this consultation is of utmost importance to gain insights from their experiences in accessing these services present at the district level. “The struggle for women’s empowerment and the enactment of laws addressing domestic violence have been long-standing battles. However, it is essential to recognise that these bodies and laws hold little significance if we fail to establish the necessary structures at the district level that effectively respond to the needs of women experiencing violence,” she said.
Aawaz II Programme works with local communities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab to promote the rights of 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.