For Multan’s women, help under one roof

Centre will provide police assistance, forensic analysis, psychological treatment and shelter

MULTAN: In a first, Punjab government has launched a refuge for female victims of violence in Multan where women will get all facilities like police help, forensic analysis, psychological treatment as well as shelter.

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the Violence against Women Centre (VAWC) in Multan on Saturday, vowing to eradicate violence against women once and for all. “No religion allows violence against women, acid throwing or teasing,” he added.

While reviewing facilities at the centre, Shehbaz said the centre’s opening had added a new chapter in the history of women empowerment in Pakistan.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, he announced setting up similar centres in different districts of the province.

He said the centre in Multan has been established under an integrated system, where women would have facilities like police help, forensic analysis and psychological counselling.

“It is duty of the government to provide complete security to women who suffer from violence or any injustice,” the CM said. “Cooperation should be extended in medico-legal aid and treatment while the police, administration and the judiciary should also proactively work for the protection of women and provision of justice.”

In the centre set up in Multan, all the facilities have been provided to the victims of domestic violence under one roof. FIRs will be registered and action will be taken against the persons lodging illegal FIRs. Doctors have been appointed besides the recruitment psychologists for expert advice.

Facilities for surgery will also be provided while a judge and courtroom has also been included in the centre.

The whole system has been given legal shape so the miseries of violence-affected women could be solved under one roof and they may not face any difficulties.

Shehbaz said the government had taken effective steps for women empowerment and protection of their rights under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

“Six billion rupees have been allocated under Zewar-e-Taleem Programme for girls studying in 6th to 10th class in 16 selected districts of Punjab whose parents have no resources to educate their girls and they are forced to get them employed as maids,” he added.

Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said there were many difficulties in the establishment of this anti-torture centre. “Its establishment is indeed an achievement of the provincial government. The centre will help address the grievances of women,” he said.

“The main objective of this centre is to eliminate violence from our society by mutual consultation.” He said this centre would bring forth those people who were still neglected by society. He said Pakistan would become Asian Tiger and terrorism would be soon eliminated from country.

Strategic Reforms Unit Director General Salman Sufi said the CM’s reforms unit has worked tirelessly to implement the contours of the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016 through Violence Against Women Centre. “The Punjab government has pioneered the fight to eradicate violence against women in the province and with the launch of the first centre, we have taken a step towards fulfilling this promise.”

He said the centre, located at Mati Tal Road, Multan would be providing comprehensive justice delivery mechanism for all victims of violence under one roof. Facilities such as lodging of FIRs, provision of psychological and legal aid as well as forensic, investigation and medico-legal examination. “The VAWC will therefore provide all requisite assistance to help victims of violence with their rehabilitation and access to an associated shelter home,” he remarked.

“The VAWC is run by all-women staff who have received specialised training to effectively deal with incidents relating to gender-based violence. To further strengthen the status of the Violence Against Women Centre as a provider of justice for the victims of violence, the facility has been officially declared as a police station by the Home Department.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2017.