Inclusive Justice Symposium-South Asia, Islamabad, 2024

“Implementation, implementation and implementation. That is crucial for ensuring access to constitutional guarantee of equal rights of citizens”. Ms. Fauzia Viqar, Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace, while speaking at the two-day regional symposium on inclusive justice organised by the Federal Judicial Academy, stated that the country has struggled with economic empowerment of women and, highlighted the gap between efforts and tangible outcomes. Despite numerous initiatives, progress on women’s empowerment has been unsatisfactory. She stressed on the need for implementation of legislative and policy commitments to gender equality; accountability and; leadership to make access to justice inclusive. Leadership must be excercised not only at the strategic level but more importantly in everyday life to prevent casual sexism and discrimination against women, if we want to achieve “Meaningful Inclusivity”

Endorsing the Ombudsperson, UN country Director Ms. Sharmeela Rasool reiterated that “Enough is Enough” and that we should promote “HE FOR SHE” Campaign to place responsibility on male leadership also.

The Federal Judicial Academy successfully concluded its two-day regional symposium on inclusive justice, held from June 28–29, 2024. Supported by the European Union and UN Women, the event gathered key stakeholders to discuss and promote inclusivity within the judicial system.