Addressing GBV, Child Abuse Crucial: Nilofar

News Desk

Islamabad: Nilofar Bakhtiar, Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), underscored the urgent need to confront prevalent gender disparities and the alarming issue of gender-based violence (GBV) and child abuse.

Citing reports revealing that every third woman faces violence and a child suffers abuse every two hours, Bakhtiar emphasized that reported cases barely scratch the surface of this pervasive problem. “This project directly responds to these challenges,” she affirmed.

With a mission to tackle GBV and violence against children, the initiative will span 1000 schools across 13 districts in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Bakhtiar highlighted the significance of this partnership, uniting government bodies, educational departments, and civil society organizations, as a commitment to a multifaceted approach.

Related:https://thepenpk.com/the-untold-stories-of-gbv-in-balochistan/

“Our goal is not only to address gender disparities and GBV but also to embed solutions within our educational institutions,” she explained, emphasizing the integration of violence prevention strategies and gender mainstreaming within these schools.

The seminar on ‘Transforming Education: Emerging Issues of Gender-Based Violence and Child Protection’ convened stakeholders from various sectors, including government departments, civil society, local communities, school management, and students from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad.

The seminar aimed to foster a secure learning environment in 1,000 schools through comprehensive training sessions involving teachers, representatives of Parent Teacher Councils (PTCs), Village Network Forums (VNFs), and Village Education Committees (VECs).

The training sessions are designed to equip participants to address gender-based violence, violence against children, sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse with sensitivity and efficacy. Specifically, 1,000 designated GBV focal persons will be empowered to implement codes of conduct, grievance redressal mechanisms, and referral protocols to effectively combat GBV, violence against children, sexual harassment, and exploitation.

The seminar emphasized the pivotal role of key stakeholders in promoting gender equality and violence prevention, underscoring their expertise in social mobilization as crucial for instigating sustainable change. The involvement of international organizations further underscores the global significance of this initiative, recognizing education as a catalyst for progress.