Women Lawyers Conference Highlights Digital Violence Challenges

ISLAMABAD: (Web Desk) –  Legal experts, policymakers, judges, and women lawyers from across Pakistan gathered in Islamabad for the National Women Lawyers Conference to discuss emerging challenges in the justice sector, with a special focus on technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV).
Organized under the European Union-funded Deliver Justice Project, the conference was jointly convened by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Federal Judicial Academy (FJA), the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council, the Balochistan Bar Council, and the Islamabad Bar Council. The event marked the first time the initiative was held at the national level.

More than 75 women lawyers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Islamabad participated in discussions examining the growing impact of online harassment, digital abuse, and other forms of gender-based violence occurring through social media platforms, mobile devices, and digital spaces.

Addressing the conference, Hon’ble Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb of the Supreme Court emphasized the critical role of women lawyers in strengthening the rule of law, protecting fundamental rights, and promoting equal access to justice. He stressed the importance of collaboration in building a more inclusive and gender-responsive justice system.

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Representatives from the European Union and UNDP highlighted the need to address emerging threats in digital spaces while ensuring that technology remains a tool for empowerment rather than harm. Speakers underscored the importance of strengthening legal frameworks, institutional responses, and support mechanisms for survivors of online violence.

A panel discussion featuring journalists, lawmakers, civil society representatives, and legal experts explored the effects of online abuse on women and examined ways to improve legal protections and survivor-centered responses.

National Commission on the Status of Women Chairperson Noureen Bano Lehri called for collective efforts to combat violence and discrimination through education, institutional reforms, and responsible media practices to create a safer environment for women and girls.

The conference also showcased initiatives aimed at promoting gender-responsive justice systems, including virtual demonstrations of specialized gender-based violence courts established in Swat, Quetta, and Peshawar under the Deliver Justice Project.

Participants concluded the event by proposing recommendations focused on improving legal safeguards, enhancing access to justice for survivors, strengthening institutional resilience against evolving digital threats, and increasing women’s participation in decision-making processes across the justice sector.

The Deliver Justice Project, funded by the European Union with a budget of 20 million euros, supports reforms aimed at improving access to justice, strengthening the rule of law, and enhancing security sector governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the merged districts, and Balochistan.