The Ministry of Law and Justice (MLJ) has collaborated with the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) to curate an interactive map of services for women faced with gender-based violence.
The map has been produced to give women ease of access to Crisis Centres, Dar-ul-Amans and District Head Quarters (DHQs) in emergency situations. The map’s dashboard displays locations of ‘women facilitation centres’ across provinces on a map and offers users the option to select their district. The map currently records 36 shelter homes, 33 DHQs and 12 Crisis Centers.
The map was launched at the ‘Tech for Gender Protection’ seminar hosted by IPRI and MLJ on Thursday. Panel speakers included Barrister Maleeka Bokhari, Assistant Superintendent of Police Amna Baig, human rights activist Farzana Bari and United Nations Women Empowerment Portfolio Manager Fareeha Ummar.
In a tweet, IPRI revealed that the institute’s Executive Director Hussain Nadim said at the event that the map was the first instance a ‘state think-tank’ tackled safety for women through technological means.
The map documents all Dar ul Amans, District Headquarters hospitals & women crisis centers.
In the second phase, the map will include special courts across the country, including police stations that provide special services to women.
View the map at: https://t.co/PaR7hFzV0f
— Islamabad Policy Research Institute (@IPRI_Pak) September 16, 2021
In another tweet, IPRI revealed that the map was still in its initial stages. A second iteration that charted out special courts and police stations would follow soon.
The recent weeks have seen increased efforts on the part of authorities to combat the burgeoning crimes against women. Last month, the Punjab police launched a ‘Women Safety App’ that would allow women to contact emergency services through the click of a button, without making a call. Security officials would also be able to track user’s location in case they were in dangerous situations. The Punjab police also announced earlier this month that they would be setting up anti-harassment and violence cells to redress aggrieved women.
