Rawalpindi : Women Protection Center (WPC) District Rawalpindi under the ASHA Project, a JICA Project for Promoting Protection, rehabilitation and Economic Empowerment of Gender-Based Violence survivors, organized a one-day lawyers’ training & roundtable discussion on “Strengthening the Capacity of WPC Lawyers on the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act, 2016 (as amended in 2022).”The event brought together panel lawyers from WPC District Rawalpindi and legal practitioners to exchange experiences and discuss ways to improve legal protection for women.
Participants highlighted key challenges in implementing the Act, including:
• Limited public awareness of available protection services
• Social pressure faced by survivors
• Difficulties in pursuing legal proceedings after returning to their communities
The discussion generated several practical recommendations:
• Expand awareness-raising activities on the Act and available services
• Establish legal support offices at the tehsil level, particularly in rural areas
• Provide safe accommodation for women attending court hearings
• Promote proper documentation of case proceedings, ensuring that cases are formally recorded and women’s voices are not lost.
Through continued collaboration with legal professionals and government stakeholders, JICA remains committed to improving women’s access to justice and reinforcing safeguarding frameworks designed to protect survivors of gender-based violence throughout Punjab.
