Twenty-seven Pakistani police instructors completed a three-day training program on gender-responsive policing, focusing on gender-based violence (GBV) and survivor-centered methodologies. The initiative, a collaboration between UN Women Pakistan, the Federal Judicial Academy, and the European Union, aims to transform law enforcement approaches to GBV cases. The program also designates the Federal Judicial Academy as a national center for gender-responsive policing coordination.
The training, funded by the EU’s Deliver Justice Project, included participants from Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA). The curriculum covered the National Framework for Gender-Responsive Policing, relevant legislation, curriculum creation, and inter-academy collaboration.
Jacqui Ketunuti, UN Women Pakistan’s Deputy Country Representative, stated that this program represents a comprehensive change requiring coordinated efforts from police, legal professionals, judicial authorities, and social support services to foster victim confidence and guarantee justice.
Jeroen Willems, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Pakistan, expressed the EU’s commitment to bolstering Pakistan’s rule of law infrastructure and anticipated the trainers’ implementation of their new expertise to create more inclusive and accessible policing for all.
Hayat Ali Shah, Director General of the Federal Judicial Academy, emphasized the training’s role in establishing a unified training approach across provinces by incorporating victim-centered policing practices. Supreme Court Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb underscored the importance of empowering law enforcement with the necessary skills and resources to effectively combat GBV, stating that a credible justice system must protect vulnerable populations.
A high-level discussion featuring Justice Farah Jamshed of the Peshawar High Court, MNA Huma Akhter Chughtai, Syeda Tanzeela Sabahat (Secretary LJCP), Umer Riaz (Former DG PVE, NACTA), and senior law enforcement officials, explored methods to integrate gender-responsive practices into policing and legal processes. This training is a component of the pound 19 million EU-funded Deliver Justice Project, launched in 2021, focused on strengthening rule of law, improving access to justice, and safeguarding women and marginalized communities in Pakistan.