QUETTA: Initiative Being Launched to Create Awareness about Gender-Based Violence in Balochistan, a statement said on Thursday. In a collaborative effort to address the widespread issue of gender-based violence (GBV), the Balochistan Police has launched a groundbreaking awareness and advocacy campaign, funded by the U.S. Embassy’s Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL).
According to a press release issued by UNODC, here on Thursday, this initiative is being implemented with technical support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
As part of their awareness-raising activities, Balochistan Police, along with the INL and UNODC, organized a flagship seminar at Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University in Quetta. This seminar marked the successful conclusion of the campaign and brought together experts from law enforcement, academia, and civil society to address a large audience of young female students.
Initiative Being Launched to Create Awareness About Gender-Based Violence in Balochistan
The aim was to inspire them to advocate for social change in combating gender-based violence in Balochistan. The event was chaired by the Minister for Education, Government of Balochistan, Raheela Hameed Durrani, who stressed the importance of proactive measures against gender-based violence and the crucial role of universities in empowering young women.
Other key stakeholders included the Deputy Inspector General of Police Balochistan, Qamar-ul-Hassan, Vice Chancellor SBK, Prof. Dr. Sajida Noreen, Chairperson Provincial Commission on the Status of Women, Balochistan, Fozia Shaheen, and SP, Quetta Police and In-Charge Women and Juvenile Facilitation Centre, Pari Gul Tareen.
The focus was on empowering youth, especially adolescent girls, by sensitizing them to identify and challenge gender stereotypes and address the root causes of gender-based violence in their daily lives. The aim was also to motivate them to pursue careers as women police officers in Balochistan.
In partnership with Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University and Government Girls Postgraduate College in Quetta, Balochistan Police and UNODC conducted two interactive awareness sessions on March 27 and 28, 2024, respectively.
These sessions brought together accomplished women police officers, psychologists, academics, and gender experts to engage and encourage female students to support GBV survivors through empathy and respect.
The objective was to empower young girls by educating them about cultural and structural prejudices that contribute to GBV. Dissemination through social media and printed materials further amplified key messages among a wider audience.
The campaign also emphasized the importance of immediate assistance for GBV survivors and the services available at the Women and Juvenile Facilitation Centre (WJFC) in Quetta. Pari Gul Tareen, SP, Quetta, stated, “Gender-based violence thrives in silence and ignorance. We aim to create awareness and a supportive environment for GBV survivors to ensure reporting to relevant authorities and the delivery of necessary assistance.”
UNODC reaffirms its commitment to preventing gender-based violence through awareness-raising, establishing reporting mechanisms, especially for women, and increasing the capacity of first responders.
