LocationsKhyber Pakhtunkhwa Police launches its first-ever Gender Strategy, Gender-Responsive Policing Policy, and SOPs for Gender-Responsive Desks
December 10, 2024
Peshawar, 10 December 2024 – In a significant step toward ensuring gender-responsive policing, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Police launched its first-ever Gender Strategy, Gender-Responsive Policing Policy, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Gender-Responsive Desks, under the European Union (EU) funded ‘Deliver Justice Programme’ which is being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
These landmark initiatives were launched by Mr Akhtar Hayat Khan, Inspector General of the KP Police, marking the end of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and aim to create safer, more inclusive police stations for women, both as duty bearers and right holders.
The Gender Strategy, Policy, and SOPs are priorities of the second iteration of the KP Rule of Law Roadmap (2023-2028) and are expected to play a pivotal role in advancing gender-responsive policing and rule of law in the province.
Mr Akhtar Hayat Khan, Inspector General KP Police, delivering remarks.
Mr Akhtar Hayat Khan, Inspector General KP Police, took this opportunity to reaffirm, “With this launch today, we have achieved a milestone in advancing gender equality at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police and it is a major step towards ending violence against women and girls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This year, we have seen an unprecedented increase in the number of women participating in our recruitment process, with candidates coming from even the most remote areas of KP. We remain committed to ensuring a safer environment for women police officers and GBV survivors, as this is the key to improving the reporting rate in GBV cases.” He also thanked the EU and UNDP Pakistan for their partnership and support in making the institution more gender-responsive for both the women officers and the communities that they serve.
The KP Police Gender Strategy will promote gender equality by increasing women’s representation within the force and making the institution more gender responsive. Complementing this, the Gender-Responsive Policing Policy and SOPs will help develop the capacity of law enforcement to address the unique needs of vulnerable groups, including women and marginalized communities, with a special focus on survivors of gender-based violence.
H.E. Dr Riina Kionka, EU Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, speaking via video link at the launch event.
In a virtual message, H.E. Dr Riina Kionka, EU Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan said, “Statistics show that violence against women and girls ha increased here in recent years. This should be reversed and gender-responsive law enforcement is part of the answer. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 5 year Police Gender Strategy that we are launching today, is a key step in that direction, and we stand behind its implementation.” She also thanked Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police for their commitment to end GBV and UNDP for their continued support to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police in achieving this crucial goal.
Under the EU-funded 20 million Euro ‘Deliver Justice Programme,’ the UNDP Rule of Law Programme successfully established four gender-responsive desks in the police stations in Peshawar. Similarly, during the past two years, UNDP supported the KP Police to train over 550 police officers, including more than 90 women officers, on handling GBV cases and gender-responsive policing skills.
Mr Kaiser Ishaque, Assistant Resident Representative UNDP Pakistan, speaking at the launch ceremony.
Mr Kaiser Ishaque, Assistant Resident Representative UNDP Pakistan, underlined, “Improving gender-responsive, accountable, and efficient rule of law service delivery in KP, including its merged districts, is a top priority for the UNDP Rule of Law programme to address crimes against women, improve working conditions for women police officers, and encourage more women to join the police service.” He also thanked KP Police and the EU for their long-lasting partnership to shape safer and more peaceful communities in KP.
Inspector General of KP Police, Mr Akhtar Hayat Khan, and UNDP ARR Mr Kaiser Ishaque holding a copy of the Gender Strategy, Gender-Responsive Policing Policy, and SOPs for Gender-Responsive Desks.
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For additional information, please contact Fizza Bangash at fizza.bangash@undp.org or +92 (51) 835 5631
About the Project:
The 20 Million Euro “Deliver Justice Programme”, is funded by the EU and aims to support reform processes to ensure the delivery of people-centred justice, enhance access to justice for all, particularly women and less privileged groups, and improve service delivery of the security sector in line with constitutional safeguards and international standards in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Merged Districts and Balochistan. The programme is funded by the EU and jointly implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The UNDP Rule of Law Programme is implementing a range of interventions to enhance security and justice sector governance in Pakistan.
About UNDP:
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.
Learn more at undp.org.
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