Need to sensitise police on gender-based violence

UNDOP holds virtual discourse on pandemic and domestic abuse

PHOTO: FILE

Gender-based violence and domestic restrictions women and girls face have exacerbated during the coronavirus pandemic, which increases the need for policing reforms.

These views were expressed a virtual exchange on “Reporting and Underreporting of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: Gender-Responsive Policing” in collaboration with the provincial police departments.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) joins hands with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN Women to launch a series of webinars on Gender and Shadow Pandemic as part of a joint Virtual Advocacy Campaign (VAC) on COVID-19 mitigation measures.


Speaking at the first webinar of the series, UNODC Country Representative Jeremy Milsom emphasised on the ominous nature of the ‘shadow pandemic’ that intensifies gender-based violence.”

UNFPA Representative Lina Mousa said: “Pre-existing vulnerabilities that subject women and girls to sexual and gender-based violence are further exacerbated during a pandemic. In this regard, UNFPA has been actively supporting the government departments and the NDMA, with a specific focus on vulnerable segments of the society such as women, children and people living with disabilities.”

Aisha Mukhtar, Country Representative, UN Women Pakistan highlighted: “Vulnerable populations experience the COVID-19 outbreak differently, which is likely to reinforce their marginalised position in society.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20th, 2020.
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