WOMEN make up only two per cent of the police force across Pakistan. Considering they constitute around half of the total population, this stark underrepresentation highlights a significant gender disparity in the country’s law enforcement.

A 2024 report by the Social Development Organisation states that while globally 20pc of women face abuse, a shocking 90pc of Pakistan’s females endure violence. Therefore, it is crucial to adopt survivor-centric models of reporting and access to justice. Meanwhile, most cases of violence against women and their children (VAWC) go unreported. To increase reporting, a safe and supportive environment for individuals must be promoted. An increase in reported cases should not be seen solely as a rise in crime, but also as a sign that more people may be placing their trust in the criminal justice system (CJS).

As reporting to the police increases, it may indicate a stronger belief in the system and the pursuit of justice. Holding perpetrators accountable helps reduce repeat offences over time, which leads to gradual reform in society.

Women, children and trans persons feel more comfortable reporting their grievances, particularly sensitive cases of VAWC, to female police officers. Possessing the same professional skills as their male counterparts, women police officers also demonstrate a heightened sensitivity to gender-related issues. This is why women’s police stations were the initiative of Pakistan’s only female prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who understood the obstacles to reporting gender-based cases to male officers.

Justice Ayesha Malik’s landmark judgements also show how women better understand the experiences of other women; she was the one who declared the two-finger test in rape cases illegal and recognised gender discrimination as workplace harassment.

Pakistan’s CJS is hindered by the lack of female representation.

Sindh has shown resourcefulness in provincial policing by starting women-led initiatives. One of them is the women and children protection centres (WCPC) that have been set up in all districts of the province. These are not police stations but facilitation centres.

At these centres, uniformed women police officers facilitate the complainant in terms of how they can move forward in cases of family disputes, including those pertaining to maintenance and custody, in which the affected parties do not want to involve the courts. The WCPC can be seen as an informal alternative dispute resolution mechanism. Mediation between families often results in a written and signed ‘compromise’ or ‘mafinama’. Other times, a ‘warning’ or ‘caution’ may be given to a perpetrator before the formal CJS process starts with the registration of the FIR.

In domestic disputes, it is crucial that victims/ survivors are empowered to make their own decisions according to the circumstances of their case. These are different from other aggravated gender-based violence (GBV) offences, such as ‘honour’ killings and sexual violence where the state can register an FIR on its own initiative and where there is no room for a ‘compromise’. In such cases, facilitation of the relevant police station for registration of the FIR must be provided.

Different models of access to justice work for different cases of GBV, and should be designed to empower the victim. One model is the one-stop protection centre, which has been set up in Hyderabad. Women and girls in South Asia face mobility challenges. OSPCs eliminate the need for victims/ survivors to travel to multiple locations in a state of vulnerability to access support services. The OSPC operates as a one-locat­ion centre, providing immediate support and assistance to vic­­tims/ survivors of GBV by placing all sectoral responses (health, psychosocial, counselling, legal services and police) under one roof.

In Pakistan, the CJS is hindered by a serious lack of female representation. Women account for less than 2pc of the superior judiciary and under 15pc of the subordinate judiciary. Likewise, their presence in prosecution services and medico-legal fields is limited. Greater female participation in the CJS must be encouraged through providing equal wages, maternity benefits, and essential facilities such as women’s restrooms and dedicated spaces that prioritise the well-being of female professionals.

Increasing women’s representation in the police force and expanding women-led initiatives like WCPCs and OSPCs is crucial, as police are the first point of contact for victims. However, it’s equally important to ensure women’s presence across the entire CJS including as medico-legal officers, lawyers, prosecutors, and judges to ensure survivor-centric, empathetic and effective justice at every stage.

The writer is a barrister of Lincoln’s Inn and an advocate of the high courts of Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2025