MANSEHRA: A consortium of national and international non-governmental organisations has joined hands to eliminate all forms of violence and harassment against women and children across the Hazara division.

“The district referral working group, comprising national and international NGOs, is unanimous in playing a proactive role to end gender-based violence and safeguard child rights to curb crimes inflicted on them in the division,” said Ghulam Yahya, International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) cluster manager for Hazara, while speaking at a meeting held here on Friday.

The participants discussed joint strategies to ensure the socioeconomic empowerment of women and children and to strengthen mechanisms to end crimes targeting them.

“This session has been highly productive in strengthening inter-agency coordination, reviewing progress on ongoing interventions, and discussing referral pathways to enhance collaboration among stakeholders to end violence and harassment against women and children,” Mr Yahya added.

To set up child protection unit in Battagram

Representatives from different organisations pledged to revitalise their energies to end all sorts of crimes against women and children.

The participants shared insights, challenges, and best practices to ensure timely, effective and survivor-centred service delivery at the community level in the targeted areas.

The in-charge of the Child Protection Unit, Hazara informed the meeting that though their office currently operated from Abbottabad to serve the entire division, a new office would soon be established in Battagram to provide psychosocial support to traumatised children and survivors of assaults.

In a separate development, district police officer Mohammad Azhar Khan on Friday barred his subordinate officials from uploading videos of themselves in uniform on social media platforms, warning the violators of the restriction would face action.

“Our uniform is a symbol of sanctity and respect. No police official or officer is allowed to upload videos while wearing it on any social media platform,” he told a meet-the-press programme at the local press club.

The DPO said no member of the force clad in uniform would be permitted to appear on TikTok or other such platforms.

“My decision reflects our resolve to uphold professionalism, dedication and commitment to our duties,” he added.

“I am here to purge the district of outlaws and land grabbers. Media and civil society should extend their support to us in this noble cause,” he said.

The DPO said Afghan nationals living in rented houses after the closure of refugee camps would also face action if they were found violating regulations.

“We are launching a crackdown on homeowners who rented out their premises to Afghan nationals in violation of the government’s rental policy under the National Action Plan,” he added.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2025