A New Hope for Justice for Women of Tribal Areas: Opening of the Gender Desk in Khyber District, Pakistan

This initiative has paved the way for millions of women to access justice. Within three months, 15 cases involving women have been registered, most of which are related to domestic violence. These include a case regarding an outdated and abolished custom. In many cases, courts have ruled in favor of the women.

According to details, out of the 1.147 million population in Khyber District, over 600,000 are women. Similar to other tribal districts, women here are not granted the right to access courts, as this is considered against traditional norms. About 99% of women spend their lives managing household affairs, and their literacy rate is also a matter of concern. As a result, women remain unaware of their legal rights and access to justice. They face various challenges, including domestic violence, honor killings, denial of inheritance rights, and the lack of the right to express their opinion in marriage.

The Chief of Police for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Akhtar Hayat Khan, inaugurated the Gender Desk at the Bara Police Station in Khyber District and appointed female staff for the desk. Fatima Afridi, a female staff member of the Gender Desk, told Zan News that within this short period, 15 different cases have been registered, most of which are related to domestic violence. Among these cases, one involved an outdated custom. On December 10, a local woman named H.S. filed a case against the accused, and others, regarding the custom. The court ruled in her favor.

The Gender Desk established in Bara, Khyber, has recently registered three minor cases, including one related to the "Ghag" custom. These cases highlight the problems faced by women who are exposed to social pressure and insecurity in their daily lives. By reporting these cases, the Gender Desk is committed to providing justice and full support for these women.

Another female staff member of the Gender Desk, Aiman Afridi, stated that "Ghag" is an old and abolished tradition in Pashtun society. According to this custom, a boy would raise his voice in front of the house of the girl he desired, demanding her hand in marriage. In modern times, some people fire gunshots in front of the girl's house, and after this, the girl can only marry that boy, even if the marriage proposal is not acceptable to her.

The staff of the Gender Desk stated that as a result, women now have access to legal assistance, and this has become a beacon of hope for those women who were previously deprived of justice. Some women who brought their issues to the Gender Desk expressed their satisfaction with this initiative, but they also noted that the desk is insufficient for the female population of the area. They called for the establishment of Gender Desks in every police station and urged awareness efforts to be made for women in remote areas about the importance of this service.

The Gender Desk established in Bara, Khyber, Pakistan, has recently registered three minor cases, including one related to the "Ghag" custom. These cases highlight the problems faced by women who are confronted with social pressure and insecurity in their daily lives. Through reporting these cases, the Gender Desk is committed to providing justice and full support for these women.

The Chief of Police in Khyber District, Mazhar Iqbal, stated that access to justice for both women and men is the foundation of a civilized society. In tribal areas, women's access to justice was previously considered against tradition. The establishment of the Gender Desk is a significant step towards ending this system and represents a new ray of hope for tribal women. He added that more female police officers have also been appointed in this regard, and the expansion of the Gender Desk is part of the officials' efforts.