K & P

K-P launches helpline against domestic violence

The helpline would also help the government in data collection on cases of domestic violence

Saba Rani January 09, 2017

The helpline would also help the government in data collection on cases of domestic violence. PHOTO: PPI

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa social welfare directorate launched a helpline – Bolo Helpline 0800-22227 – established to prevent violence against women and facilitate them in all emergency situations.

The provincial government, led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is still struggling to enact a law to prevent violence against this marginalized segment of society.

This is not first such effort – Awami National Party (ANP) had also launched helpline centers for filing complaints and counseling in three districts, Nowshera, Mardan and Peshawar.

These helpline centers stopped working after the project ended.

Now, a toll-free line is being inaugurated in several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to support victims of human rights abuse and help women integrate as a vital part of society.

Incidentally, the K-P Domestic Violence Bill was prepared by the Provincial Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW), which failed to get the consent of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) and it is still pending in the provincial assembly.

“This is a good step … but legislation is even more important. In the absence of a proper law to eliminate violence against women, no legal action can be taken,” said Rakhshanda Naz, a civil society member.

Naz said: “There are so many helplines working across the country, but there is no liaison among them.”

Literacy rate in rural areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was extremely low against urban areas, and the nine-digit number was too long to easily recall.

Shabeena Ayaz of the Aurat Foundation agreed with the social workers assertion and said that the helpline number should not exceed more than three digits.

“In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where women do not have equal access to education, it wouldn’t be easy for them to remember this nine-digit number,” she said.

Minister for Social Welfare Sikander Sherpao said that the helpline would provide different services, including psychological help.

The helpline, he said, would also help the government in data collection on cases of domestic violence.

He said that the government was working on a new version of the domestic violence bill.

“We have prepared a draft and after getting the approval of the Provincial Commission on the Status of Women, its vetted copy will be resent to the Council of Islamic Ideology.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2017.

COMMENTS (1)

israr | 7 years ago | Reply yes I agree with legislation I think protection of law to any action is better than anything. the performance I am not sure how you will rate this department once it starts working however I suggest few steps that will help a lot. domestic violence is root cause of 25-30% crimes, men or boys get frustrated by their parents of wives arguments and go out seeking escapes somewhere else like another women or smoking dopes or may be quarrel or fights with other men or boys, the frustration rises and that results in murder, theft , hurting wives and similar physical offences. From the women side the things are even more dangerous the women or girls in kpk are valued more than life of men so if they are frustrated and do not understand the balance in relationship they will end of committing similar crimes that means whole generation is affected. by creating these domestic violence centres I hope there will be someone to listen to them an angry person is like a fully blown balloon and if they are heard they comeback to their size which is when they are ready to listen and are stable. moreover I say the data collection is very imp and should be made part of record. so as a business intelligence data analyst I say a monthly report should be prepared based on some questions answered and shared with police, answers like 'My husband hits me regularly' and something like 'my friend acted wired when he returned from the club or after a smoke' also should be made part of record against that person (not criminal record) this will help predict what might happen and also the trend can help device a solution to reduce the cause of frustration by also analysing routine of that person.

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