US Ambassador Richard Olson praised the efforts of the Islamabad Capital Territory Police on Thursday in a commemoration of 'International Women Human Rights Defenders Day' at a forum to discuss ways to address domestic violence and crimes involving women at the Islamabad Police Lines.
In his remarks, Ambassador Olson also highlighted US efforts to empower Pakistani women and girls, including support to the special unit to investigate crimes against women and children established by the Islamabad Capital Territory Police in 2010.
"The United States believes that investing in women is one of surest ways to achieve economic progress, political stability, and greater prosperity for Pakistani women - and men," said Ambassador Olson. "That's why the United States government supports the Islamabad Capital Territory Police in their efforts to protect human rights and empower Pakistani women to lift up their families, their communities, and their nation."
The United States trained the first 40 police investigators assigned to the Islamabad Capital Territory's special unit to investigate crimes against women and children.
`Since 2002, the United States has partnered with the Islamabad Capital Territory Police to provide training, equipment, and infrastructure support. Through this programme, the United States has trained over 3,000 Islamabad police officers and over 6,000 officers from across Pakistan.
In 2011 and 2012, the United States government provided $840,000 in funding to the Islamabad Capital Territory Police to purchase ambulances, bomb equipment vans, transport vehicles, patrol motorcycles, and tactical equipment, as well as to renovate classrooms at the Islamabad Police Lines. International Women Human Rights Defenders Day is part of the worldwide campaign 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, taking place November 25-December 10.