Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Judicial Academy (KPJA), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has organized a two-day orientation session for the fourth batch of court staff on handling gender-based violence (GBV). The event, running from September 9 to 10, 2024, aims to enhance understanding and handling of GBV cases among court personnel from various districts including Khyber, Swat, Kohat, Peshawar, and Mardan.
According to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Judicial Academy – Peshawar, the opening ceremony featured remarks by Mr. Jehanzeb Shinwari, Director General of KPJA, who outlined the session’s objectives and welcomed the attendees. Ms. Salma Zeb, representing UNDP as the Legal Aid and ADR Officer from the Rule of Law Programme, also participated in the event.
The orientation included various educational segments led by distinguished legal professionals. Mr. Asif Raza, Senior Civil Judge from Hangu, initiated the discussion by exploring key concepts and types of GBV. Following him, Ms. Zeba Rasheed, District and Sessions Judge from Kohat, addressed common myths and stereotypes associated with GBV and discussed the trauma experienced by victims.
The second day commenced with participants reflecting on insights from the previous day’s sessions. Ms. Faryal Zia Mufti, District and Sessions Judge and Director of Instructions at KPJA, conducted workshops on the challenges faced by survivors in accessing justice and the components vital for women’s access to justice.
Further sessions were led by Mr. Asad Hameed Khan, a member of the Inspection Team at Peshawar High Court, who covered international and national best practices, survivor-centric court processes, and legal aid. He also facilitated a role-play exercise to demonstrate effective handling of GBV cases.
The program concluded with a ceremony presided over by Mr. Jehanzeb Shinwari and featured comments from Ms. Caitlin Chittenden, a Rule of Law Specialist with UNDP. Participants were awarded certificates recognizing their participation and completion of the training.
This orientation session marks an ongoing effort by the KPJA and UNDP to equip judicial staff with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively address and mitigate gender-based violence within their communities.