Combating Gender-based Violence: Importance of Female Representation in Decision-making Bodies I EP3

In this insightful podcast episode, we delve deep into the importance of increased female representation in the judiciary, legislature, and policy-making bodies, with a particular focus on gender justice and combating gender-based violence. Our discussion underscores the pressing need for diverse perspectives to create nuanced and effective legal and policy frameworks.
Our esteemed panel includes:
Asad Jamal: A civil rights attorney, teacher, and researcher dedicated to promoting human rights and democratic discourse in Pakistan. He brings his extensive knowledge in criminal law, constitutional law, and human rights to the table, offering a comprehensive view of the current legal landscape.
Sahar Bandial: An advocate with over 12 years of experience in various legal fields, including banking, civil, corporate, constitutional, and family law. She has been involved in significant public interest cases and has particular expertise in legislative drafting, especially in laws governing rape, maternity benefits, and domestic workers' rights.
Sameer Khosa: A partner at Axis Law Chambers with over 12 years of experience in dispute resolution, specializing in constitutional and commercial litigation. He has represented both private and public sector entities and has worked on impact litigation challenging outdated practices like the two-finger test performed on rape victims.
Hiba Akbar: A visiting assistant professor at LUMS, where she teaches criminal law, family law, and legal writing. Her research interests lie in gender, labor, and law, and she holds an LLM from Columbia University as a Fulbright scholar.
The panelists discuss the shocking numbers on gender-based violence in Pakistan, including honor killings, rapes, gang rapes, acid attacks, and domestic violence incidents reported in 2022. These statistics highlight the urgent need for reform and better enforcement of existing laws.
They analyze the deficiencies in the current legal regime that hinder effective prosecution and protection for victims of gender-based violence. The discussion emphasizes the necessity for a gender lens in law and policy-making to ensure more inclusive and effective solutions.
The panel explores the broader context of gender-based violence, the discussion addresses the need for comprehensive legal reforms, better legislative drafting, and the implementation of policies that protect and empower women.
Join us for a compelling and thought-provoking conversation on the critical role of female representation in shaping a more just and equitable legal and policy framework, essential for tackling gender-based violence and promoting gender justice in Pakistan.