UN Women, Punjab government sign MoU

UN Women and Strategic Reforms Unit (SRU) of the Punjab Government on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for future cooperation in promoting gender equality efforts. The MoU was signed by the Country Representative for UN Women, Jamshed M Kazi and Director General, SRU, Salman Sufi in the presence of officials representing the both sides and media representatives, said a press release
Through this cooperation, joint initiatives of strategic importance related to women's empowerment and gender equality, with a focus on ending violence against women, will be undertaken. To achieve their common objectives, both the parties will work together in establishing and strengthening social protection infrastructure and services for women and girls. This will be in line with global standards and best practices including essential services package for survivors of gender based violence. Given the success of Violence against Women Centre (VAWC) Multan, a significant focus of this cooperation will include potential replication of Punjab's VAWC across Pakistan and globally. In addition, both parties will extend technical support around respective legislative engagements, especially for the effective implementation and functioning of the Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Act.
Director General, SRU, Salman Sufi said, "Government of the Punjab is at forefront on the war against violence, and Strategic Reforms Unit under the guidance of Chief Minister Punjab, is consistently striving to help redefine the lives of women with reforms like one stop shops for survivors of violence and gender sensitization of curriculum in Punjab."
He said the issue of violence against women would be the hallmark objective of PML-N manifesto for 2018 elections. About one-window violence against Women Centre in Multan, he said that 1300 cases of violence against women have been dealt in the centre since during last one year. "If this number can be reported in only one district, we can imagine the magnitude of problem across the country." He said that the Punjab government is establishing such centers in Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Gujranwala. Talking about the campaign of 'Women on Wheels' in Punjab, he said that Punjab government plans to distribute 3000 motorcycles in March 2018 among the women trained under this initiative.-PR