Outcome PAK_D_3.2

PCO SN Outcome 4.2: Strategies and initiatives for safe and empowering public spaces for women and girls are drafted, adopted and/or implemented, reflecting global guidelines (aligned to SP Output 12)

Recognizing the importance of women’s and girls’ freedom of movement, the Pakistan Country Office (PCO) developed and rollout strategies for making public spaces safe. The findings of the Women’s Safety Audit (WSA) of the Public Spaces conducted in 2020 were utilized towards improving service delivery, facilitating policies and supporting implementation plans of service providers to avert and respond to violence against women and girls (VAWG) in public spaces. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) in collaboration with the Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH) to create safer travel and work environment for women . This was a landmark step, making PIA the first airline in the world to champion such an initiative. The PCO intends to take the WSA findings strategically forward in 2022 by covering areas that were not touched upon this year, and further amplify the efforts to realize women’s and girls’ right to harassment-free public life. An advocacy campaign in collaboration with Gender Protection Unit in Islamabad and provincial police departments in Sindh and Punjab was launched at community level to increase women's and girls' access to justice. Seminars were supported to facilitate engagement between senior women police representatives and community members including men and boys to sensitize them about women’s right to harassment-free spaces, available mechanisms for accessing justice by women survivors and enhancing citizens trust in law enforcement agencies. This was supplemented by strengthening the capacities of key justice sector stakeholders, including officers of intermediate rank of several justice and police stakeholders to further pave the way for establishing safe and empowering public spaces for women and girls. A robust capacity building plan for Ombudspersons Office in KP, as well as police departments in all four provinces in line with the essential services package (ESP) guidelines were developed and rolled out leading to enhanced service delivery. Under its flagship Rule of Law Programme, UN Women developed a comprehensive Gender and Social Inclusion Strategy for justice sector stakeholders in the provinces of KP and Balochistan to improve women's access to justice. A comprehensive Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) survey was conducted in selected districts of KP and Balochistan to inform important baselines, that would eventually help guide implementation and course-correction. Additionally, UN Women also led the development of the Communication, Advocacy and Mobilization (CAM) strategy to raise awareness on issues related to Rule of Law and citizen's inclusive access to justice, thereby increasing citizens' trust in the justice system.