Women Crisis Centre fails to meet objectives
* Uncooperative staff, complicated procedures disappoint violence victims
ISLAMABAD: The Women Crisis Centre (WCC), a project of Women Development Ministry, has failed to meet its objectives.
Though the ministry is keen to set up WCC branches at the district level all over the country, its existing branches have badly failed to deliver.
Incompetent and uncooperative staff, long complicated procedures and lack of facilities are the main causes of hindrance in resolving the problem of violence victims.
The WCC has been set up to fight violence against women and provide free legal aid to victims. The centre is supposed to pursue cases of the victims until they get justice, besides providing shelter to women and children facing threats to their lives. But most of the violence victims who visit the WCC for help are complaining of the rude behaviour of lawyer and other staff members.
“I visited the WCC Islamabad to seek help as my husband was threatening me and my five children but got nothing except disappointment,” a victim Gulshan told Daily Times.
“My husband was forcing me to indulge in immoral activities but I refused and along with my children left his house,” said Gulshan, adding, “A family living in Gulistan Colony near Ayub Park provided us shelter.”
She said that the family, which provided shelter to them, suggested that she should visit the WCC to seek legal assistance against life threats she was receiving from her husband. Gulshan said that on visiting the centre, she found the situation quite contrary to the government’s claims, as the attitude of staff was very rude towards her. “I was asked to wait as the lawyer was busy on phone and after some hours, she asked me in and started questioning me in such a way as I had committed some sin,” said Gulshan.
Though the lawyer’s attitude was very disappointing I continued visiting the WCC for many weeks on the hope that I would get justice, Gulshan said. “Each time the lawyer demanded some new documents such as ‘Nikkahnama’ and receipts of jewellery bought on the occasion of my wedding,” she said, adding, “How is it possible for me to provide these documents when I am running to save my life.”
Gulshan said that after many visits to the centre she gave up the idea and contacted a private lawyer who started to pursue her case for a nominal fee. Sources in the ministry told Daily Times that they were receiving complaints against the behaviour of the staff towards victims of domestic violence, but they could not do anything in this regard.
“Though most of the staff of crisis centre is not eligible for these jobs, it has a strong influence in the ministry,” sources said.
When Daily Times sought permission to visit the crisis centre, Ministry of Women Development Section Officer Zafar Iqbal said that under the orders of the president no member of the media could be allowed to visit of the centre.
Source: Daily Times
Date:6/6/2007
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