In the last meeting of National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee held on 24th June 2019, under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Mr. Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Chief Justice of Pakistan, it was decided that the High Courts will establish GBV-Courts and training on GBV Laws will be imparted to D&SJ/AD&SJ from each district in Pakistan.
With the approval of Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan, the Punjab Judicial Academy has been assigned the task to organize training workshops on the Access to Justice and Gender Based Violence Laws in collaboration with Asian Development Bank and Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan. The program is to be conducted in three workshops (workshop-I, 18th-20thJuly, workshop-II 25th-27thJuly 2019 & workshop-III 29th-31st2019) with proportionate representation of judges from all the provinces in Pakistan and Islamabad Capital Territory.
The objective of the Program is to promote awareness of Gender Based Violence Laws and Procedures to enable the participants to reflect on the link between GBV and protection in the given context.
First batch of the participants/ Additional District & Sessions Judges from all the provinces in Pakistan attended the workshop w.e.f 18thto 20thJuly 2019.
In the opening ceremony of the first workshop, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh Acting Chief Justice Lahore High Court Lahore graced the Occasion as Chief Guest. Mr. Abdul Sattar, Director General Punjab Judicial Academy welcomed the Hon’ble Acting Chief Justice, Hon’ble Ms. Justice Robyn Ann Layton, other distinguished guests & members of ADB team. In his introductory remarks, he highlighted the issues of Gender based violence in criminal courts.
ADB Team including Ms. Zarizana Abdul Aziz, Ms. Saima Amin Khawaja, Ms. Humaira Masihuddin discussed and shared responses, strategies and support mechanism with the trainees to reduce and respond to incidents of GBV.
On the eve of concluding ceremony on 20th July 2019, His lordship Hon’ble Mr. Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh again conferred dignity with his presence. Other distinguished guests also attended the program
His lordship, in his keynote address on the occasion, applauded the sincere efforts of the GBV Team for imparting training on the subject and anticipated that the training will surely enhance horizon of GBV laws and its implementation in the courts. Hon’ble Justice Robyn Ann Layton eulogized the PJA for arranging program on a very short notice.
In his concluding remarks, the Director General Punjab Judicial Academy impressed upon the participants to sensitize their colleagues as well. At the end, souvenirs were presented to the distinguished guests. The Director General PJA expressed his gratitude and thanks to Hon’ble Chief Guest for gracing the program with his presence and also thanked all the respected guests for their participation.
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