Money matters: Attempt to secure funds for women protection centres not successful

There is no need for foreign funds to implement the law: PCSW

LAHORE: A recent attempt by the provincial government to secure funds from foreign donors for shelter homes and protection centres to be set up under the Protection of Women Against Violence Act have not yielded any fruit, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The law passed in February this year had proposed establishment of shelter homes and protection centres for women suffering domestic violence.

A senior official involved in consultations regarding enforcement of the law with foreign embassies said a presentation was recently given to a delegation from various embassies and high commissions for the purpose. “The event was organised by the Australian High Commission. Senior diplomats from several European countries’ embassies including the ambassador of Netherland were present on the occasion,” she said. “The meeting, tilted Gender Development Forum, took place in Islamabad,” she added.

The official said that the government team gave a presentation on the Act and measures needed to implement it. However, she said, the government failed to secure any pledge for funding in support of the enforcement of the Act. She said the government team was unable to address some of the concerns raised by those attending the session. She said a member of the delegation had raised the issue of public hearings on the draft law before its enactment. They were told that no public hearings had been held before the enactment, she added.

The official said that because of its failure to secure funding the government had decided to upgrade some Darul Amans and to give them the status of protection centres.

Punjab Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) Chairperson Fauzia Viqar, who had been present at the Gender Development Forum, said there was no need for foreign funding to enforce the law. “Some foreign donors are interested in projects against domestic violence. It is on the top of their priority areas,” she said. She confirmed that Darul Amans would be upgraded and given the status of protection centres.

Chief Minister’s Special Monitoring Unit (SMU) Member Salman Sufi denied that the government had failed to secure funding. He said that the government had not sought any funds for the purpose. The meeting was meant only to brief foreign diplomats about steps taken by the provincial government to protect women against violence, he said. “We have funding offers from the United Nations but we have decided to set up the first centre in Multan with our own funds. Funds have been allocated for similar centres in three other districts,” he said.

The Protection of Women Against Violence Act states that a complainant or other needy women along with dependent children may seek shelter and other facilities at these centres. Some of the services to be available at these centres are police reporting, registration of criminal cases, medical examinations and collection of forensic evidence.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 4^th, 2016.