Experts stressed the role of judiciary and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) as pivotal to ensure effective implementation of the existing laws protecting women against violence. UN Women organised a joint panel discussion titled ‘Stand Up For Equality-Role of Judiciary and Law Enforcement Agencies to end Violence against Women and Girls’ with the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) team and Legal Rights Forum (LRF) where legal experts, LEAs, and civil society demanded increased women participation in the judicial system and LEAs. UN Women Pakistan’s Deputy Country Representative, Aisha Mukhtar, believed in her opening remarks that despite several national and international commitments on gender equality and women’s human rights, Pakistan’s ranking on gender equality remained one of the lowest in the world. She further added that the prevalence of violence against women and girls had always remained high but these cases are usually not reported. Quoting a study, Mukhtar asserted that 52 per cent of the women who experienced violence never sought help or told anyone about the violence that they had experienced. She talked at length about the work done for legislative reforms at the national and provincial level. However, Mukhtar stated, “Police officials lack appropriate training, knowledge, resources and attitudes to collect evidence, conduct medical examinations and make a sound case for prosecution.” 52% of women victims brush violence incidents under rug: UN official The representative further added, “Among other issues with the justice sector, lack of court facilities and massive backlogs of pending cases causing lengthy delays, and inadequate training and regulation of lawyers are some key challenges in providing justice to victims of violence.” The role of police officials and civil society was discussed in a session moderated by LRF’s Police Reforms Advisor, Fozia Tariq while Sindh’s Women Development Additional Secretary, Anjum Iqbal; Dadabhoy Institute of Higher Education Faculty of Law Dean, Dr Raana Khan; Aurat Foundation Resident Director, Mehnaz Rehman; Karachi Central Jail SSP Prisons, Sheeba Shah and Sindh Police Officer, Uzma Saeed participated as panellists. Another panel discussed the role of judiciary and prosecution under the moderation of LRF Board of Directors Member, Hameeda Kaleem. Former Federal Law Minister, Barrister Shahida Jamil; former Inspector-General (IG) of Sindh Police, Niaz Ahmed Siddiqui; Additional Advocate General Sindh, Kalpina Devi; Sindh Prosecutor General, Ayaz Ahmed Tonio and Karachi Bar Association General Secretary, Amer Saleem participated in the discussion. Karachi Bar Association President, Naeem Qureshi, said, “Victim Protection Act is there but its compliance is missing.” He called the protection of victims and proper investigation by competent investigation officers at police stations key to the provision of justice to women victims of violence and abuse. LRF Executive Director, Tahir Iqbal, considered the importance of massive police reforms and speedy trials in controlling incidents of violence against women. He further added that out of 729 judges, working from high-court level to judicial magistrates in Sindh, there were only 100 women judges, including one high court judge. Sindh only had 1973 women police personnel out of a total police force of 119626, he maintained. Concrete actions to include the participation of women in judiciary and LEAs were said to be needed if we wanted to see an end to violence against women. The event was attended by women rights activists, members of the legal fraternity and civil society, government officials, as several academics. Published in Daily Times, March 16th 2019.