ISLAMABAD: The Legal Aid Society (LAS), in collaboration with the Federal Judicial Academy (FJA), hosted a conference titled “Advancing Gender Justice in Courtrooms: Improving Litigation Practices in Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Cases.” The event brought together judges from across Pakistan, legal practitioners, prosecutors, policymakers, and civil society representatives to deliberate on how courtrooms can play a transformative role in advancing survivor-centered justice.
Opening the proceedings, Maliha Zia, Director of Gender, Inclusion & Development at LAS, welcomed participants and highlighted the organization’s efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s justice system. She traced the country’s legislative journey on GBV—from the Hudood laws to the landmark Anti-Rape (Investigation & Trial) Act, 2021—and underscored LAS’s commitment to trauma-informed legal and psychosocial support for survivors.
Hayat Ali Shah, Director General of the FJA, emphasized the need to embed gender sensitivity in judicial practice. He noted that judicial training must move beyond technicalities to address survivors’ lived realities: “Today’s discussion highlights the crucial role of women in society, yet many become victims of rape and gender-based violence, which profoundly impacts their lives. It is the collective responsibility of the judicial system—police, judiciary, and prosecution—to support survivors and help them rebuild their lives.”
A key session, “Judicial Reflections on Gender Justice,” featured GBV judges from Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Islamabad Capital Territory, moderated by Ms. Maliha Zia. Panellists reflected on systemic gaps, shared courtroom experiences, and discussed ways to balance due process with sensitivity toward survivors. An interactive Q&A with prosecutors followed, surfacing practical solutions on case management, coordination, and courtroom practice.
Inspector Gulnaz from Faisalabad Police Tahaffuz Markaz urged members of the legal fraternity to take proactive leadership: “We need to step out and be proactive in bringing change rather than merely complaining about it, as we represent the supply side of justice.”
Barrister Bassam Ali Dahri, Litigation Manager at LAS, presented LAS’s work in GBV litigation. He shared that LAS has secured 18 convictions with a 30% success rate in such cases and elaborated on the differences between sodomy and rape under Pakistani law. He emphasized both progress—such as in-camera trials, designated GBV courts, survivor-centered courtroom setups, and judicial sensitization—and persistent challenges, including compromise culture, judicial delays, and limited resources.
Ms. Zehra Kamal, psychologist and consultant, added a trauma-informed lens, highlighting the importance of understanding consent and addressing secondary victimization that survivors often experience within the justice system.
The Chief Guest, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, underscored that laws alone are not enough, calling for a truly survivor-centric approach that prioritizes dignity, safety, and access to justice in GBV cases.
In his closing remarks and vote of thanks, Justice (R) Mushir Alam commended LAS and FJA for creating a forum where diverse voices from the bench, bar, and beyond could come together to chart a collective way forward. He emphasized on inclusion of transgenders when we talk about gender-based violence and gender-based violence is not restricted to one gender but violence against all genders.
The conference concluded with networking and high tea, leaving participants with a renewed commitment to transforming Pakistan’s courtrooms into spaces of fairness, dignity, and survivor-centered justice.
