Women and Juvenile Facilitation Centers

Women and Juvenile Facilitation Centers
Funded by the U.S. Embassy’s Office of International Narcotics and Law
Enforcement (INL) and the Government of Norway
In Pakistan, women hold unlimited potential for effecting change. However, their right to self-determination is frequently undermined due to social, cultural, and economic vulnerabilities.
Constant intimidation and patriarchal control exposes them to the risk of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Evidence shows that GBV victims often lack voice and agency to seek justice. Social norms, humiliation, and fear of reprisal deter victims from seeking legal recourse, and those who do may not receive justice due to inefficient and tedious processes. The conviction rate for violence against women stands at a mere 1-2.5% in Pakistan, whereas one in two women
who have experienced violence refrain from seeking help. GBV prevention is further hampered by lack of access to gender-friendly victim support services.
Ensuring Protection and Support
Responding to the challenges of gender-based violence in Pakistan, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has pioneered an innovative model of Women and Juvenile Facilitation Centers (WJFCs), working in close partnership with the provinces including Punjab and Balochistan