National Women Lawyers Conference spotlights digital gender-based violence

The Conference opened with reflections from last year's gathering, shared by Ms. Sadia Hanif, Programme Analyst, UNDP, followed by a session led by Ms. Nadia Ali, Head of Gender Team, UNDP, who shared insights on online violence and Pakistan's first National TFGBV strategy.

Dr. Sébastien Lorion, Team Leader, Governance and Human Capital Development, Delegation of the EU to Pakistan, underlined, "The European Union remains committed to working with national institutions and the legal community to advance gender equality, strengthen the rule of law and ensure that justice is accessible, especially as new challenges arise. The EU and Pakistan are committed to ensuring that the digital spaces and workplaces of tomorrow are safe, inclusive, and empowering for everyone. Technology was created to expand our horizons, not to shrink them. Women lawyers play a key role in supporting access to justice for women victims of technology-facilitated gender-based violence."

A panel discussion moderated by Ms. Shahzada Ahmad, Programme Manager, Rule of Law Programme, UNDP Pakistan, brought together Ms. Munizae Jahangir, Award-Winning TV Journalist and Documentary Filmmaker; Ms. Huma Akhtar Chughtai, Member of the National Assembly; Mr. Usama Khilji, Director, Bolo Bhi; and Ms. Aaliya Zareen Abbasi, Senior Legal Expert. The discussion explored the impact of online violence on women and the need for stronger legal, institutional, and survivor-centered responses.

Ms. Noureen Bano Lehri, Chairperson, National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), emphasized, "The fight against violence and discrimination requires collective action and sustained commitment. By investing in education, responsible media practices, and institutional reforms, we can build a society where women and girls live with dignity, safety, and equal opportunity."

The Conference also featured an impact hub showcasing efforts undertaken by UNDP with funding from the EU to strengthen gender-responsive and survivor-centered justice and security sectors in KP and Balochistan, including a virtual reality tour of GBV Courts established under the programme in Swat, Quetta, and Peshawar.

Mr. Hayat Ali Shah, Director General, FJA, reaffirmed, "The Federal Judicial Academy remains committed to supporting initiatives that enhance the capacity, visibility, and leadership of women legal professionals in Pakistan's justice sector."

In her remarks, Van Nguyen, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan, said, "Justice becomes stronger when women are not only seeking it, but shaping it. As more women participate in digital spaces, our collective responsibility is to ensure that technology expands opportunity rather than creates new forms of harm. Investing in women lawyers is an investment in more inclusive institutions, greater public trust, and a justice system capable of protecting rights and dignity in an increasingly digital world." She appreciated the Supreme Court, FJA, and the Bar Councils of KP, Balochistan, and Islamabad for their commitment to a safer justice sector, and thanked the EU for its longstanding support to rule of law institutions.