Dastak x LUMS x Punjab Women Protection Authority

Dastak in Collaboration with Punjab Women Protection Authority, Social Welfare Department and Lahore University of Management Sciences organised a two-day legal experts consultation on the implementation of the Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Act 2016 on 5-6 June 2023. The consultation took place at LUMS and was attended by nearly 30 legal experts from Punjab and Sindh.

5-6 June 2023: As envisaged in the Punjab Projection of Women Against Violence Act, 2016, Punjab Women Protection Authority is striving to create a comprehensive women protection mechanism in Punjab. To this end, PWPA has started the process of meaningful deliberation between the civil society and the government. The Authority plans to hold a series of consultations with lawyers, judiciary, police, NGOs and community workers in order to develop the most robust system possible. First in the line of efforts was a consultation with legal experts, including both academics and practitioners, organised in collaboration with Dastak Charitable Trust and LUMS to develop a common understanding of the text of the Act and identify substantive and procedural ambiguities that may impede its effective enforcement.

The consultation comprised five technical sessions which included a detailed section wise review of the PWPA 2016 as well as a review of the draft Rules to be framed under the Act (See Agenda). Salman Sufi, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, opened the consultation on the first day, explaining the original idea behind enacting such a law. Secretary and Director General of the Social Welfare Department and Director General of the Punjab Women Protection Authority were also actively part of the discussions and agreed to closely monitor the implementation of this law and address the associated challenges.

An Outcome Report will be drafted by the host organisations and submitted to all stakeholders for further action.