HR Committee raises alarm over violence against women, calls for justice reforms  

Concerns over increasing cases of gender based violence and the protection of women and children came

Islamabad: Concerns over increasing cases of gender based violence and the protection of women and children came under discussion as the National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights reviewed government efforts to prevent crimes, improve investigations and provide better support to victims.

The committee questioned whether existing systems are strong enough to protect victims and ensure quick justice, while calling for clearer laws, wider awareness campaigns and improved access to support services.

The 13th meeting of the committee reviewed the performance of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), government measures against violence and progress on previous recommendations.

The meeting was chaired by Committee Chairperson Asiya Naz Tanoli, with Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Barrister Danyal Chaudhry serving as co chair.

During the briefing, NCSW informed the committee that its complaint management system has been active for the last five months to help women report problems and receive support.

Officials said consultants working on the complaint system received special training with support from Rozan to improve complaint handling. The committee was also informed that gender based data is being updated through the National Gender Data Portal to help the government make better policies based on facts.

Officials said the first Gender Parity Report has already been published and future reports will include provincial level information. The committee was informed that NCSW has also conducted media training sessions to improve reporting of rape and gender violence cases.

Officials said journalists were trained to report such sensitive cases with responsibility, dignity and care for victims.

The Ministry of Human Rights told the committee that reported cases of gender based violence increased between 2022 and 2024, leading authorities to strengthen special investigation units and women and child protection units.

Officials said police officers and relevant staff received specialised training while complaint systems were improved to provide faster support to victims. Barrister Danyal Chaudhry stressed that awareness about harassment laws is necessary in both public and private institutions.

He said people must understand their rights and responsibilities so that victims can seek help and legal procedures remain clear for everyone involved. He also called for removing confusion around the definition of harassment so that both complainants and accused persons understand their legal position.

The parliamentary secretary recommended wider promotion of the Ministry of Human Rights 1099 helpline and the 1121 child helpline through newspapers, pamphlets and other awareness campaigns.

He said many people are unaware of available support services and greater publicity can help victims reach authorities quickly. Committee member Shahida Rahmani suggested presenting a real rape case as a case study before the committee.

She said studying actual cases could help lawmakers prepare practical recommendations to improve the justice system. The Secretary of the Ministry of Human Rights informed the committee that some countries provide free trial systems for rape victims.

He suggested that Pakistan should examine the possibility of introducing a similar system to make justice safer, easier and more accessible for victims.