Chairperson of the Punjab Women Protection Authority (PWPA), Hina Pervaiz Butt has said that the Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Punjab, is committed to providing the best facilities for victims of gender-based violence, marking it as a top priority. “Providing justice to vulnerable women facing violence is a red line for the Chief Minister,” Butt emphasized.
Speaking as the chief guest on the first day of a four-day workshop organized by UNFPA in collaboration with the University of Galway, Ireland, improvements in the province’s Gender-Based Violence (GBV) response system, particularly in enhancing safe accommodations and services for survivors has been the priority she added.
The workshop, part of a research initiative aimed at assessing the costing of GBV services in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is a crucial step in improving the response and early intervention for survivors. It is organized under the Aawaz II Program, with support from UK Aid and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
During her address, Hina Pervaiz Butt appreciated UNFPA’s technical support, which includes drafting rules, developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), upgrading helpline 1737, and strengthening protection centers and shelter homes. She emphasized that, as chairperson, she will ensure that these gaps are covered through appropriate budget allocation and focus on capacity building of staff in all protection centers, regardless of their roles or responsibilities.
She said that Punjab currently has several Violence Against Women Centers providing essential services to survivors, but much more needs to be done to enhance their effectiveness. The workshop also aims to establish minimum quality standards for services based on the UN’s essential services package for women and girls affected by violence.
