LAHORE: In addition to handling police-related issues, the Gujranwala police established the first-ever general reporting center, the Women’s Enclave, for women who need assistance filing complaints with other state-run agencies, such as the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
The center, which is located in Satellite Town, stands out for having only female police officers working there; neither male employees nor guests are permitted inside or to speak with the victims.
The Gujranwala police department has provided the three primary relevant departments—the FIA, the Social Welfare Department, and the Women Ombudsperson Punjab—with a log-in feature via a specially created app so that the latter can handle victim women’s complaints first and foremost. Most significantly, because the ladies’s Enclave has hired top female attorneys to represent the victim ladies, they will also be able to receive legal and other assistance in regaining their dowry items and inherited properties from their in-laws.
Speaking with Dawn, an official explains that the facility was created in response to the surge in incidents of violence against women, many of whom stay away from the male-dominated police stations because they feel more comfortable discussing delicate matters like domestic abuse and sexual assault with female officers.
The center only employs women to handle complaints from women.
400 to 500 women reportedly go to police stations each month to file complaints, the majority of which deal with sexual assault, domestic abuse, job harassment, and property and dowry issues.
According to the source, Gujranwala City Police Officer (CPO) Rana Ayyaz Saleem met with representatives from the Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce, the Punjab Women Ombudsperson, the Social Welfare Department, and the FIA to discuss any matters pertaining to women “outside of the police station.”
The inspector general of police has deemed the center to be among the greatest facilities for women, therefore it is likely to be duplicated in other regions of the province.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) report, which was cited by the official, stated that approximately 91% of women employed in domestic work experienced harassment. Additionally, social media played a significant role in the increase of harassment cases, as many women were coerced into recording videos, using inappropriate photos, and threatening them with violence by men.
According to the official, the Women’s Enclave is staffed by female officers with training who are willing to defend the rights of victims and offer them with legal protection. Gujranwala police and the FIA’s cybercrime department worked together for this goal, with the enclave handling complaints to the appropriate authorities and following up on cases.
