Health Minister Sindh, DrSaad Khalid Niaz condemned the recent ‘Ranipur case’, expressing strong condemnation of child sexual abuse. He emphasised the inhumane nature of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and called for collective efforts to prevent such heinous criminal acts.As keynote speaker at the Legal Aid Society (LAS), a Karachi-based non-profit organisation, hosted a launch event for the Gender-Based Violence Guidelines, a crucial initiative aimed at equipping healthcare providers with tools to combat sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), Dr. Niaz underscored the need for heightened societal awareness and collaborative action to combat SGBV and protect the rights and safety of children.
The event brought together key stakeholders from the criminal justice system who shared their insights into the critical role of the health sector in identifying, responding to, and referring SGBV cases. Healthcare providers are often the first point of contact for survivors, making their role in the fight against SGBV pivotal.
Barrister HayaEmaanZahid, the Chief Executive Officer of LAS, inaugurated the event and articulated LAS’s vision centred on safeguarding fundamental rights, promoting access to justice, and connecting individuals with the justice system. She also highlighted LAS’s efforts to empower vulnerable populations to access protection and rights, including gender and child security. She shed light on the ongoing global humanitarian crisis, drawing attention to the atrocities in Palestine.
BayramgulGarabayeva, the Head of Office for UNFPA in Sindh, underscored UNFPA’s commitment to enhancing policies and frameworks to prevent SGBV, along with capacity-building for service providers supporting survivors of SGBV.
A panel discussion followed, featuring prominent figures such as Dr Ayesha Mehnaz, Chairperson of Konpal Child Abuse Prevention Society; Professor FehminaArif from the Department of Paediatrics at Dow University of Health Sciences; DrBeenishHameed, Consultant and Supervisor in Emergency Medicine at SMBBIT; Dr. AshaBedar, a Clinical Psychologist; DrShaziaJabbar, Consultant Gynaecologist at Dow University of Health Sciences; and Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed, Incharge of the Sindh Forensic DNA Lab at ICCBS.
DrSummaiya Syed, Chief Police Surgeon Karachi, expertly facilitated the panel discussion. She provided a comprehensive overview of the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act 2021 and delved into the existing state of the healthcare sector’s approach to sexual and gender-based violence. Her discussion prominently emphasised how the introduced guidelines would play a pivotal role in enhancing this response.
Former Justice KhiljiArifHussain extended a vote of thanks during his closing speech, highlighting that this event marks just the beginning of collective efforts in the fight against SGBV. The progress made here will lead to the next phase of this critical endeavour.
