KP JUDICIAL ACADEMY HOSTS TWO-DAY CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING ON GENDER-SENSITIVE LAWS FOR PRO-BONO LAWYERS (NOVEMBER 4–5, 2026)

PESHAWAR (November 5, 2026): A specialized two-day capacity-building workshop on Gender-Sensitive Laws, Policies, Legal and Compliance Mechanisms for pro-bono lawyers was conducted on November 4–5, 2026, at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Judicial Academy (KPJA), Peshawar. The event was held under a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed between Da Hawwa Lur Organization and the Peshawar Bar Association (PBA).

Following nominations issued by Qaisar Zaman, President of the Peshawar Bar Association, 30 advocates practicing in High Courts and Lower Courts participated in the intensive training. The delegation represented five key districts across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Peshawar, Swabi, Charsadda, Mardan, and Nowshera. The initiative aimed to enhance lawyers' operational knowledge in handling cases of gender-based violence (GBV), workplace protection, digital rights, and state compliance mechanisms.

The program commenced with opening remarks by Mahwish Sana (Team Lead Legal) and Khurshid Bano (CEO, Da Hawwa Lur), followed by a pre-evaluation assessment led by Aiman Yahya (MEL Officer). Day 1 featured comprehensive technical sessions:

• Gender-Based Violence Legislation: Saima (Aurat Foundation) detailed the provisions of the KP Domestic Violence Against Women (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2021.
• KPCSW Mandate & District Monitoring: Amna Durrani (Director Programs, KPCSW) discussed complaint redressal under the KP Commission on the Status of Women Act, 2016, alongside district committee roles in monitoring and reporting.
• Workplace Harassment Protections: Khurshid Bano briefed advocates on workplace harassment laws, harassment committee protocols, and the Ombudsperson’s role.
• Shelter Home SOPs: Rukhshanda Naz (CEO, NET) presented safety planning, risk assessment, confidentiality protocols, and legal aid referral pathways for Dar-ul-Aman shelter homes.
• Human Rights Compliance: Ghulam Ali (DG, Directorate of Human Rights & Law) explained KP’s human rights legal framework, while Salma Zeb (Legal Advisor, NCHR) outlined complaint submission and accountability procedures before the National Commission for Human Rights.

Day 2: Medico-Legal Management, Cybercrime, & RTI

The second day focused on evidentiary standards, digital protection, and public transparency:

• Medico-Legal GBV Management: Leema Shinwari (Demonstrator, ARCC) guided participants through medical examinations, evidence preservation, consent protocols, and police coordination in sexual assault and domestic violence cases.
• Cybercrime & Online GBV: Faisal Tariq (Cyber Cop, NCCA) led a module on cyberstalking, online harassment, and digital evidence handling under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016.
• Right to Information: Sadaat (Communication Officer, KPIC) explained information request workflows and complaint procedures under the KP Right to Information Act, 2013.

The workshop concluded with a post-training evaluation conducted by Aiman Yahya. Director General of the KP Judicial Academy, Kalim Arshad Khan, graced the closing ceremony as chief guest. In his address, DG Kalim Arshad Khan highly commended the dedicated efforts of Da Hawwa Lur Organization in building legal capacity and promoting gender justice across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Certificates of completion were jointly presented to the participant lawyers by DG Kalim Arshad Khan.