Karachi,December 2024 – The Government of Sindh (GoS), in partnership with the Legal Aid Society (LAS) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has launched the revised Sexual Violence Response Framework (SVRF) 2025-2029.
Building on the foundation of the 2020-2024 framework—which contributed to improving conviction rates from 5% in 2020 to 15% in 2023—the revised framework prioritizes stronger prevention mechanisms, survivor rehabilitation programs, and enhanced accountability measures.
Inaugurating the event, the CEO of LAS, Barrister Haya Zahid remarked, “Our collective efforts over the last 5 years, have reduced the average trial time for SGBV survivors in Sindh from 16.8 months to just 8-9 months”.
Representing the UNFPA, Ms. Renuka acknowledged, “We commend the Government of Sindh for their continued efforts to uphold women’s rights and combat violence against women.”
Opening the event, Martin Dawson, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), said, “With 28% of women facing violence, the UK is proud to support strengthened systems and policies to ensure safety and justice for all.”
The Secretary of Law Department Sindh, Mr. Ali Ahmed Baloch, contributed, “The SVRF is our promise to transform survivors’ resilience into a foundation for dignity, empowerment, and renewed hope.”
Emphasizing the importance of multi-sectoral coordination, Ms. Madia Latif, Country Director of Pathfinder International, said, “The Multi-Sectoral Coordination Committee serves as a critical platform that is driving reforms and policy adjustments based on ground realities.”
Ms. Maliha Zia Lari, the Associate Director of LAS, stated, “The SVRF is an action plan that lays out unique interventions for primary prevention, secondary response, and tertiary rehabilitation to ensure an effective, efficient, and fair response.”
The event hosted a joint panel of police, prosecution, and medico-legal representatives who discussed their commitment to unified efforts to enhance access to justice for survivors, sharing challenges, progress, and the favorable impact of rising conviction rates.
The Deputy Secretary of Home Department Sindh, Ms. Fatima Saima Ahmed, further advocated that, “Protecting women’s rights is not just a matter of justice, but a commitment to equality, dignity, and empowerment for all.”
This revised framework reflects a shared commitment to building a future where survivors are empowered, protected, and supported within a robust justice system.
