Islamabad,(Parliament Times): The Ministry of Human Rights, Government of Pakistan, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), launched Pakistan’s first National Strategy on Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) in Islamabad. The launch marks a significant national milestone in advancing a coordinated, survivor-centred, and rights-based response to technology-facilitated harm against women and girls.
Inaugurating the launch, Barrister Aqeel Malik, Minister of State for Law and Justice, described the Strategy as a landmark initiative: “Pakistan’s first National Strategy on Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence will strengthen institutional coordination, ensure survivor protection, promote responsible engagement with digital platforms, and prioritise awareness and prevention. This marks an important milestone in creating safer, more inclusive, and empowering digital spaces for all women and girls,” he said.
UNDP Resident Representative Dr. Samuel Rizk framed the Strategy as a forward-looking governance reform that strengthens institutional accountability while safeguarding women’s and girls’ participation in digital spaces. “Pakistan’s digital future must be assessed not only by scale, but by the protections it delivers. This Strategy embeds safety and accountability into Pakistan’s digital governance mechanisms. The task now is to turn this into practice,” he said.
Abdul Khalique Sheikh, Secretary of the Ministry of Human Rights, outlined the government’s roadmap for operationalizing the Strategy, emphasizing strengthened inter-agency coordination and institutional accountability to ensure its effective implementation. In 2024, eight million new female users came online, reflecting meaningful progress in digital inclusion. Yet the protection gap remains stark: the same year saw 135,000 cybercrime complaints, with only 826 cases proceeding to prosecution – a rate of just 0.6%.
Speaking on the occasion, Saba Sadiq, Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights, “This Strategy will help guide our efforts to promote safer digital environments, empower women and girls to participate confidently online, and ensure that their rights are protected in the digital age,” she said.
Echoing the call for institutional commitment, Dr. Nafisa Shah, Chairperson of the Gender Mainstreaming Committee, National Assembly, said, “Ensuring accountability and strengthening the justice system are central to combating technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
Sam Waldock, Development Director at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, “Global cooperation and sustained partnerships are essential to addressing emerging digital harms. By working together with governments, civil society, and technology stakeholders, we can ensure that women and girls are protected online and that digital spaces are safe, inclusive, and empowering for all,” he said.