RECORDER REPORT
PESHAWAR: Director, Social Welfare, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Abid Kakakhail has said that the provincial government is committed to establishing to more Darul Amans (Shelter Houses) in districts Chitral and Bannu to support women against violence.
With the establishment of two more Darul Amans, the total number of such facilities in the province will climb to 8. In KP, there are six functional Darul Amans are located in district Peshawar, Abbottabad, Swat and Mardan. Manshera and Haripur. The establishment of more Darul Amans, he said reflects the commitment of KP Government to empower women and protect them from violence. He said that new SOPs to run Darul Amans in KP will be notified soon.
The Director, Social Welfare stated this during a consultation organized by Blue Veins and Social Welfare Department in Peshawar to discuss the challenges in the smooth functioning of Darul ul Amans in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The District Officers (DOs), Social Welfare officers and staff responsible to run Darul Amans participated in the consultative dialogue.
The participants discussed that Darul Aman’s (DAs) are conceived as a sanctuary for women who have lost familial protection or been rendered destitute are provided services including institutional-cum- residential care for run away and destitute women, rehabilitation and re-adjustment in the society and imparting them skill/vocational training in income-generating skills to the rejected and misplaced women.
The meeting was told that in KP women victims of violence including domestic violence, physical, psychological abuse, rape cases, vanni and swara cases, forced marriage, emotional and economical abuse, etc are accommodated in these facilities. Female victims of violence having children are also accommodated. The Darul Aman representatives claim to provide protection and institutional care to all residents such as free boarding and lodging facilities including all the necessities of life, free medico-legal aid, psychological support such as counseling sessions.
Speaking on the occasion, Director Social Welfare, Abid Kakakhail said that Social Welfare Department and KP Govt have strong commitment to protect all citizens specially women from violence. Through Darul Amans, the govt provides a secure accommodation for women and girls who are at risk of or have been subjected to violence, although they contribute far more than just a safe place to stay. Shelters provide essential aspects of protection, services and resources which enable women who have experienced abuse and their children to recover from the violence, to rebuild self-esteem, and to take steps to regain a self-determined and independent life”.
Program Coordinator Blue Veins, Qamar Naseem said that CSOs and government must work together to end GBV. With proper resources, Darul Amans will have the capacity to provide the range of protection and support services necessary to help survivors and those at risk of violence to avoid future abuse. Darul Amans, he said can also contribute to awareness-raising and social change as part of broader efforts to prevent violence against women and girls altogether.
Rukhshanda Naz a women rights activist said that as advocates for women, the unique voice of shelters is essential in local and global efforts to end violence against them. While shelters are part of the social service sector, they have emerged from the broader women’s movement. In particular, efforts to address violence against women are closely linked to the work of survivors and advocates who established women’s shelters, rape crisis centers, telephone hotlines and other support groups.
