GRAP workshop: Police officers trained in gender issues

Gender sensitisation, sex definitions and gender-based violence discussed.

LAHORE:


The government organised a workshop for police investigation officers on how to handle cases of gender-based violence and the relevant legislation at the Police Training School Chuhng on Thursday.


The one-day workshop was held as part of the provincial government’s Gender Reform Action Plan (GRAP), which aims to bring about changes in the structures and processes of government so that it promotes equity among men and women, and to enable it to deliver on the rights and entitlements of women, said a press release.

Umar Farooq Malik, a gender specialist at the Home Department, said in his talk that the uplift of women was one of the major policy commitments of the government.


He spoke about gender and sex definitions, gender sensitisation and gender-based violence.

Malik said that cultural and social taboos had restricted female participation in the public sector. He said a positive change could not be brought in society until gender equality was achieved at workplace.

He said that basic facilities such as separate female toilets and rest areas were absent in most departments. He said female employment in the public sector was minimal, particularly in decision-making positions.

Waseem Khan Durrani, the chief law instructor at the Police Training School, gave the audience of inspectors, assistant inspectors and sub inspectors a lecture on principles of investigation, with special focus on crime scene and DNA analysis.

Major (retired) Mubasharullah, Commandant of the Police Training School, was the chief guest at the event. Shazia Ehsan, a gender specialist at the Law Department, acted as moderator at the workshop.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10th, 2012.
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