Seamless service: USAID project on gender-based violence launched

LAHORE:

“Pakistan will do all it can to protect women from violence. No civilized country can tolerate gender-based violence,” said provincial assembly member (MPA) Raheela Khadim Hussain on Friday.

She was speaking at the launching ceremony of Seamless Service Delivery Lahore Hub under the USAID-funded Gender Equity Programme of Aurat Foundation.

The project titled Managing and Countering Gender-Based Violence through Strengthening Lahore Hub and Building Capacities of Seamless Partners is an 18-month programme for training staff in various agencies and departments working with victims of gender-based violence.

Gender Equity Programme (GEP) Chief of Party Simi Kamal said service operation ensured that all departments were inter-connected to provide protection, legal aid, counselling and necessary training to police, staff of shelter homes and NGOs. She spoke on the strategy to combat gender-based violence through service delivery.

Insan Foundation Trust Director Kishwar Sultana said that nearly 300 staff members from NGOs, police, shelter homes and helplines were expected to be trained under the program. She said the programme would benefit 7,500 women in Lahore. She discussed various activities included in the training.

Hina Jillani from AGSH-Dastak Charitable Trust stressed on the need for a coordination mechanism. She said police should be sensitised over basic needs of victims of gender-based violence. The launch was attended by representatives of various NGOs, government officials and journalists.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 28^th, 2015.