Sindh Women Development Minister, Nadira Panjwani has said that Women Development Department will extend every support and help to distressed women in particular victims of rape and domestic violence. This she stated during her meeting with representatives of various NGOs who met her in her office in New Sindh Secretariat, says a statement issued on Wednesday.
Nadira 'said although our government is a caretaker but it would be ensured that we took every step that should protect the dignity and social status of women. 'For the purpose Women Development Department was making all out efforts including signing of memorandum of understanding (MoUs) to establish links with those organisations working for the welfare of women cause', she said, adding that co-operation of civil society and media would not only be helpful but vital as well.
Referring to the problems of women affected by rape and domestic violence, the minister held out the assurance to representatives of various NGOs that soon she would talk with the relevant authorities of Police and Health departments to resolve the shortage of women medico legal officers in Services Hospital. Besides ensure such cases are handled by women police officers only.
She also welcomed the suggestion put forward by NGOs representatives for establishment of rehabilitation centre for rape survivor and for her immediate family for sometime and said the proposal if formally placed she would take up the matter with relevant authorities for provision of land.
Earlier Nasreen Latif of the War Against Rape (WAR) briefed the minister of the activities of WAR and put forward some suggestions. Such as timeframe of six months for cases of women indicted in rape and domestic violence to be decided as being done in family laws case and establishment of one window operation facility in women police stations and at Services Hospital.
The meeting was attended by Women Development's Secretary Subhan Memon, Deputy Secretary Musrat, Khalida Qadri and Sarah Zaman of WAR, Aneela Ansari of PANNHA and Salma Murad of SEVA.