The Multi-Sectoral Coordination Committee (MSCC) Conference on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) was held in Karachi by the Home Department, Government of Sindh, in collaboration with UNFPA, Pathfinder International, and Legal Aid Society, with support from the AWAAZ II Programme funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The conference brought together senior government leadership and a wide range of stakeholders to strengthen coordination and advance a survivor-centered response to GBV across Sindh. Participants included representatives from the Sindh Police, Human Rights Department, Women Development Department, Prosecution, Social Welfare, Population Welfare, Medico-Legal Services, Health Department, and civil society organizations, reflecting the multi-sectoral nature of Sindh’s GBV response.
Addressing the conference as Chief Guest, Ms Shaheena Sher Ali, Minister for Women Development, Government of Sindh, delivered a strong and candid message on the realities of women seeking justice. She questioned why women continue to be denied their lawful share in property despite approaching institutions such as One-Stop Protection Centers (OSPCs), police stations, and courts.
She also highlighted the disproportionate burden placed on women after divorce, including sole responsibility for childcare and household management, while men are rarely held equally accountable. Emphasizing women’s autonomy and rights, the Minister stated that women should not be stigmatized after divorce and has the right to remarry and live with dignity. Her remarks underscored the need for legal reform, stronger enforcement, and shifts in societal attitudes.
Delivering the Keynote Address, Muhammad Iqbal Memon, Additional Chief Secretary of Sindh, reaffirmed the Government of Sindh’s commitment to ensuring justice, protection, and dignity for every survivor of gender-based violence. He highlighted key achievements under the MSCC framework, including improvements in medico-legal services, strengthened data management systems, and the operationalization of OSPCs across the province. Noting Sindh’s leadership at the national level, he shared that the Government aims to establish 12 OSPCs across Sindh by 2026, adding that other provinces are increasingly learning from Sindh’s integrated GBV response model. Speaking on the impact of institutional coordination, Adv. Rubina Brohi, Chairperson of the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women, emphasized that effective coordination through the MSCC has brought together diverse stakeholders and strengthened accountability across institutions. She noted that these reforms have yielded measurable results, with GBV conviction rates in Sindh increasing from 5% to 17% over the past five years, demonstrating that MSCC-led institutional reforms are working.
Earlier, delivering the welcome remarks, Saeed Ahmed Shaikh, Special Secretary Home Department and Chair, MSCC Core Committee, highlighted the evolution of the MSCC since its establishment in 2021 under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary of Sindh. He emphasized that the MSCC functions as a strategic coordination mechanism, bringing together state institutions, law enforcement, service providers, and community-based support systems, to ensure timely, dignified, and survivor-centered assistance.