KARACHI: The Multi-Sectoral Coordination Committee (MSCC) Conference on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) was held in Karachi on Monday by the Home Department, Government of Sindh, in collaboration with UNFPA, Pathfinder International and Legal Aid Society, with support from the AWAAZ II Programme funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The conference brought together senior government leadership and a broad range of stakeholders to strengthen coordination and advance a survivor-centred response to gender-based violence across Sindh.
Participants included representatives from the Sindh Police, Human Rights Department, Women Development Department, Prosecution, Social Welfare, Population Welfare, Medico-Legal Services, Health Department and civil society organisations, reflecting the multi-sectoral nature of Sindh’s response to GBV.
Addressing the conference as chief guest, Sindh Minister for Women Development Shaheena Sher Ali highlighted the persistent challenges faced by women seeking justice. She questioned why women are still denied their lawful share in property despite approaching institutions such as One-Stop Protection Centres, police stations and courts.
She also pointed to the disproportionate burden placed on women after divorce, including sole responsibility for childcare and household management, while men are rarely held equally accountable. Stressing women’s autonomy and rights, she said women should not be stigmatised after divorce and have the right to remarry and live with dignity, underscoring the need for legal reform, stronger enforcement and changes in societal attitudes.
Delivering the keynote address, Additional Chief Secretary Sindh Muhammad Iqbal Memon reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to ensuring justice, protection and dignity for survivors of gender-based violence. He highlighted key achievements under the MSCC framework, including improvements in medico-legal services, strengthened data management systems and the operationalisation of One-Stop Protection Centres across the province. He said the Sindh government aims to establish 12 such centres by 2026, adding that other provinces are increasingly learning from Sindh’s integrated GBV response model.
Chairperson Sindh Commission on the Status of Women, Advocate Rubina Brohi, highlighted the impact of institutional coordination under the MSCC, stating that effective coordination has brought together diverse stakeholders and strengthened accountability across institutions.
She noted that GBV conviction rates in Sindh have increased from five percent to 17 percent over the past five years, attributing the improvement to MSCC-led institutional reforms.
Reaffirming Sindh’s commitment to international frameworks, she said efforts to address GBV are guided by the Sustainable Development Goals and UN conventions, including Pakistan’s obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
Earlier, Special Secretary Home Department and Chair MSCC Core Committee Saeed Ahmed Shaikh, in his welcome remarks, traced the evolution of the MSCC since its establishment in 2021 under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary of Sindh. He said the MSCC functions as a strategic coordination mechanism bringing together state institutions, law enforcement agencies, service providers and community-based support systems to ensure timely, dignified and survivor-centred assistance.
The conference concluded with a renewed pledge by the Government of Sindh and its partners to strengthen coordination, reinforce accountability, expand survivor-centred services and adapt institutional systems to emerging forms of violence, with participants terming the event a significant step towards addressing gender-based violence in society.
