KARACHI:UN Women Pakistan, Sindh Women Development Department and Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid (LHRLA) lunched a Women Protection Unite (WPU) in the metropolis that will work 24/7 to provide immediate assistance to women and girls who are survivors of gender based violence (GBV), said Zia Ahmed Awan, Advocate president of LHRLA.
The ceremony was presided over by Sindh Minster for Women Development Department Syeda Shehla Raza.
She said that her department has been serving the women of Sindh province. She said that her department in collaboration with different NGOs has initiated projects for women in Thar. She said the government of Sindh has earmarked huge funds for welfare of women. She said the provincial government would provide assistance to the NGOs working for women development in the province.
However, Zia Awan said that women and girls can approach the protection and prevention services of the WPU through the Madadgar Helpline 1098 at any hours of night and day.
He said 16 days of activism against gender based violence show dedication and commitment to helping and elevating the condition of women in society.
He said that the protection unit will work as an extension of Madagaar National Helpline 1098, an existing project started with UNICEF and Plan International operational for over 18 years.
He informed that the helpline was established in 2001 and alone during 2016-2017 it addressed 10,976 cases related to violence that ranged from attempted homicide to dowry issues to cybercrimes. Among those reported cases 7900 cases were from Sindh at Madadgaar Helpline, highest number followed by 1387 cases from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 1233 cases from Punjab and 456 from Balochistan.
On this occasion, regional Director Anna Karin Jatfors and Deputy Country representatives Ayesha Mukhtar of UNO women, Nargis Rehman, Chairperson of Pakistan’s women Foundation for peace, Mehnaz Rehman resident director of Aurat Foundation and others also spoke.
Later, the representatives of UN Women Pakistan and Global team paid visit to Women Protection Unit in Karachi.
In addition to the establishment of protection unit in Karachi LHRLA in collaboration with UN Women Pakistan and Women Development Department of Sindh will conduct awareness session in Karachi, Khairpur and Dadu on gender based violence, protection and prevention.