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Session 4A: Direct & Indirect Determinants of Violence Against Women (VAW)
  • Chair:
  • Ms. Fauzia Viqar, Chairperson, PCSW
  • Co-Chair:
  • Ms. Farida Shaheed, Shirkat Gah Women’s Resource Center
  • Panelists:
  • Mr. Mubarak Ali, Deputy Director, Bureau of Statistics Punjab
  • Dr. Rafi Amir-ud-din, Research Fellow, COMSATS
  • Ms. Zarizana Abdul Aziz, Director, Due Diligence Project

The panel focused on the social norms and practices that contribute to and aggravate violence against women and the resources and systems of support for survivors or the lack thereof. Current policy responses and the inadequate implementation of laws to address violence against women were also addressed.

Session 4B: The Role of Social Protection & Inclusion for Women’s Empowerment
  • Chair:
  • Ms. Sarah Hendricks, Director, Gender Equality, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  • Panelists:
  • Dr. Sohail Anwar Chaudhry, CEO, Punjab Social Protection Authority
  • Dr. Hadia Majid, LUMS
  • Ms. Ume Laila, Executive Director, HomeNet Pakistan
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This panel shed light on social protection policies and their impact on the lives of women. Furthermore, the panel also highlighted whether targeted cash transfers go beyond relief to graduation out of poverty.

 
Session 5A: The Cost of Violence Against Women (VAW)

This panel focused on the cost of violence against women to the economy and its undermining effect on government expenditure on welfare interventions and programs. The need for increased financial investments to mitigate VAW was discussed as well as its effect on businesses.

Session 5B: The Role of Private Sector in Improving Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)

This roundtable expounded upon the regulatory environment for women in the private sector, how it supports or impedes women’s participation in businesses, as well as the possible partnerships that could be formed between the public and private sector.

 
Session 6A: Gender Justice & Women’s Rights

Chaired by Ms. Khawar Mumtaz, chairperson National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), this panel discussed the social and legal factors limiting women’s rights and access to opportunities and resources. In particular the rights of women to make key decisions about their own future, impediments to property and marital inheritance rights, identification of policy measures, and suggesting improved systems for ensuring inclusion and gender justice were shed light upon.

Session 6B: Gender Equality: Identifying Challenges & Finding Solutions for Women in Health

This panel focused on the need of dialogue to identify areas that require policy reforms in the context of women’s health and highlighted gender related issues that require policy interventions.