Session
Source of Reference
State under Review
Recommendation
HRCP stated that, in February 2015, the Federal Ombudsman proposed an amendment to the Protection of Women from Harassment in the Workplace Act, 2010, to extend the definition of ‘workplace’ to include workplaces of domestic servants and homebased workers. However, the amendment had not been adopted. [Para 75]
Reference type
Implementations
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National ReportPara 21) Pakistan has continued to enhance efforts to ensure that women across Pakistan are aware of their rights as well as the legal remedies available to them. The MoHR and NHRIs, such as NCHR, NCSW and NCRC, are collectively working to ensure implementation of the CEDAW through legislation, policy measures, research, and awareness-raising. For instance, NCSW raised awareness through dissemination of information posters in Urdu and English including on electronic media on laws related to acid crime law, underage marriage, workplace harassment and rape. Para 22) At the provincial level, Punjab CSW developed advocacy material regarding awareness of laws including inheritance and property rights of women, birth registration, and prevention of early and forced marriage. Awareness sessions were conducted in educational institutes and brochures were distributed in 36 districts of Punjab. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) CSW arranged campaigns for awareness raising on laws and workshops in collaboration with CSOs and religious leaders. KP CSW is also providing technical support to the provincial Ombudsperson on harassment. Moreover, Women Development Department (WDD) in Balochistan, with support of UN WOMEN, has conducted awareness sessions on responding to gender-based violence. Para 95) In addition to policy measures, Pakistan has also enacted various legislations to address VAW including harassment, deprivation from inheritance, domestic violence, acid throwing, and rape. In January 2022, the Parliament amended the Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010 to broaden the definition of employees to include non-conventional workplaces and increase definition of workplace harassment to include gender discrimination at work. Additionally, the State promulgated the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act 2021 and the Enforcement of Women's Property Rights Act 2020. Para 97) In order to effectively implement criminal laws and provide speedy justice to victims of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in a gender-sensitive manner, the National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC) in 2019 directed all provincial High Courts to establish special Gender Based Violence Courts. Pursuant to the directions of NJPMC, 36 GBV courts have been designated in Punjab, 27 in Sindh, 29 in KPK, 1 in Balochistan and 2 in ICT. Additionally, 36 judicial officers are assigned to GBV cases in Punjab, 46 in Sindh, 32 in KPK and 1 in Balochistan and ICT respectively. The same requirement is also mentioned in the recently enacted anti-rape legislation. Para 98) The efforts of the GoP also include administrative and institutional interventions. A Gender Protection Unit (GPU) was established at the Islamabad Police Facilitation Centre in May 2021 to encourage women victims of sexual harassment, rape, and bonded labour to report offences in the presence of a well-trained team of female police officers, legal officers, psychologists, and medical officers. Para 99) To improve reporting, helplines have been set up across Pakistan. In 2019, Punjab established 186 helpdesks managed solely by female police staff, and by 2020 32% of all police stations in Punjab had helpdesks. The Punjab Police has also set up 03 women police stations in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad to exclusively facilitate reporting of crimes against women. The PCSW has also administered the Punjab Women’s Helpline (1043) to provide legal guidance, raise awareness, and register formal complaints. In 2019, 1308 complaints were received through the helpline, while 567 complaints were received in 2020. In January 2021, the Balochistan Women Helpline was launched for registration of complaints against women harassment at home and at the workplace. Para 100) In Balochistan a One-Stop Complex for Victims of Crimes against Women has been set up to provide in-house services including 24/7 helpline, medical examination, legal consultation, psychosocial support, referral service to long-term shelters, and policy protection to survivors of GBV. The Punjab Social Welfare & BM Department has established a model Protection Center in Multan that received 2684 complaints till 2020. Additionally, 12 Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Crisis Centres for Women exist in Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Mianwali, Sahiwal, Faisalabad, Muzaffargarh, Khushab, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Mutlan Sialkot and Vehari and three additional centers are under construction in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Faisalabad. In these centers 7400 women were provided redress between 2019 and 2020. In KP, there are 8 Dar-ul-Aman (Shelter Homes) and 5 new Dar-ulAmans are being established for providing rehabilitation services to the victims of violence. Para 101) The WDD Balochistan in its Annual Development Plan (ADP) of FY2021-22 has provided for several development schemes like Women Business Incubation Centres, Women Bazaars, and Working Women Hostels at Divisional Headquarters. Three Crises Centres and Shelter Homes are under construction in different districts and SOPs of the Crises Centres and Shelter Homes operating are being revised to harmonize them with the essence of the SDGs and other best practices. Para 103) The MoHR is in the process of drafting a National Policy on Ending Violence against Women and Girls. The Ministry is also engaged with the UN Women as well as with all stakeholders in the country including at provincial levels. Para 104) Legislation on domestic violence exists in all provinces. The Sindh Domestic Violence (Protection and Prevention) Act was passed in 2013, the Balochistan Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act in 2014, the Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Act in 2016 and the KP Domestic Violence Against women (Prevention and Protection) Act in 2021. Under these laws, institutional mechanisms have been set up to protect women from abuse. District level protection committees are organized to ensure access to legal, psychological and shelter services of women survivors of violence. At the federal level, a similar bill has been drafted and introduced in the National Assembly.National ReportUN CompilationUN CompilationPara 50) CEDAW noted with concern the fact that marital rape was not recognized as a criminal offence under the Criminal Law (Amendment) (Offences relating to Rape) Act, 2016, the high prevalence of gender-based violence against women and the social acceptance of domestic violence, the underreporting of gender-based violence against women and impunity for perpetrators, the lack of awareness and training, the insufficient capacity of shelters for victims of gender-based violence and the lack of rehabilitation services.
Response