Women caucus: Help desks for women at police stations on the cards
Women superintendents nominated for liaison with parliamentary caucus.
Women superintendents nominated for liaison with parliamentary caucus. DESIGN: ESSA MALIK
LAHORE:
Parliamentarian women caucus convener Uzma Bukhari said on Tuesday help desks for women would be set up at police stations across the province.
She was talking to newsmen after a meeting with Punjab Police Inspector General Khan Baig at his office.
Bukhari said a list of women parliamentarians from various districts who would act as focal persons for the caucus had been handed over to the IG.
“The IG will share the list with district police officers for liaison between the representatives and the administrations,” she said.
She said the IG had nominated women superintendents for liaison between the Police department and the women caucus. She said these superintendents would be invited to attend the caucus meetings.
She said Baig had told them that awareness about women’s issues was now a part of police training.
“He told us that fresh recruits as well as officers in the Police Department were being sensitised about women-related issues,” she said.
Caucus treasurer Nausheen Hamid said incidents of violence against women were on the rise. “We need more police stations for women,” she said.
Hamid said police stations for women should also address sexual harassment at police stations.
“If women prisoners are kept separate from men, the chances of unpleasant incidents are reduced,” she said.
Caucus secretary Hina Pervaiz Butt said, “The environment at police stations should make women feel secure. They should have no fear of coming forward to register their complaints.”
Butt said help desks having two women each should be set up at every police station in all districts of the province.
“These help desks are a part of the women empowerment package. Because separate police stations are not possible at the moment, a help desk at every police station will go a long way in helping women,” she said.
Provincial Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) chairperson Fauzia Viqar said, “Women are hesitant about approaching police due to lack of sensitivity and inaction of male police.
Establishment of women help desks in every police station will encourage women to report crime and provide a more accurate picture of violence against women in the Punjab. It is a very welcome announcement by the IG.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2014.
Parliamentarian women caucus convener Uzma Bukhari said on Tuesday help desks for women would be set up at police stations across the province.
She was talking to newsmen after a meeting with Punjab Police Inspector General Khan Baig at his office.
Bukhari said a list of women parliamentarians from various districts who would act as focal persons for the caucus had been handed over to the IG.
“The IG will share the list with district police officers for liaison between the representatives and the administrations,” she said.
She said the IG had nominated women superintendents for liaison between the Police department and the women caucus. She said these superintendents would be invited to attend the caucus meetings.
She said Baig had told them that awareness about women’s issues was now a part of police training.
“He told us that fresh recruits as well as officers in the Police Department were being sensitised about women-related issues,” she said.
Caucus treasurer Nausheen Hamid said incidents of violence against women were on the rise. “We need more police stations for women,” she said.
Hamid said police stations for women should also address sexual harassment at police stations.
“If women prisoners are kept separate from men, the chances of unpleasant incidents are reduced,” she said.
Caucus secretary Hina Pervaiz Butt said, “The environment at police stations should make women feel secure. They should have no fear of coming forward to register their complaints.”
Butt said help desks having two women each should be set up at every police station in all districts of the province.
“These help desks are a part of the women empowerment package. Because separate police stations are not possible at the moment, a help desk at every police station will go a long way in helping women,” she said.
Provincial Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) chairperson Fauzia Viqar said, “Women are hesitant about approaching police due to lack of sensitivity and inaction of male police.
Establishment of women help desks in every police station will encourage women to report crime and provide a more accurate picture of violence against women in the Punjab. It is a very welcome announcement by the IG.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2014.