Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have reviewed ongoing efforts to strengthen responses to gender-based violence (GBV) and promote women’s rights and gender equality in the country.
UNFPA Country Representative Luay Shabaneh called on Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Azam Nazeer Tarar in Islamabad to discuss continued cooperation and future priorities in the areas of human rights protection and support for vulnerable groups.
The meeting, also attended by Secretary of the Ministry of Human Rights Abdul Khaliq Shaikh, highlighted the long-standing partnership between Pakistan and UNFPA in line with constitutional guarantees and international commitments.
This collaboration has supported key initiatives aligned with Pakistan’s constitutional obligations and international commitments.
Both sides reviewed a range of ongoing initiatives, including efforts to prevent child marriage through legal reforms and community awareness programs. They also discussed progress on a coordinated helpline system designed to address complaints related to gender-based violence and human rights violations, with an emphasis on victim support and effective referral services.
Read More: Digital Threats, Real Consequences: Addressing Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence
The discussions further covered broader GBV response mechanisms, including prevention strategies, survivor protection, and institutional support. UNFPA’s assistance in policy development, capacity building of service providers, and awareness campaigns was acknowledged during the meeting.
A key point of discussion was the recently developed National Strategy for Male Involvement in addressing GBV, which focuses on engaging men and boys as active partners in promoting behavioural change and preventing violence.
The meeting also reviewed the performance of Anti-Rape Crisis Cells, with emphasis on improving coordination among institutions, ensuring timely justice, and strengthening psychosocial and rehabilitation services for survivors.
Read More: UNFPA Warns of Rising Tech-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence in Pakistan
Both Pakistan and UNFPA reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation to strengthen gender equality frameworks, improve protection systems, and promote a rights-based approach to development in the country.
Sohail Majeed
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
