By Asim Shahzad
LAHORE: UNDP Pakistan’s Punjab SDGs Unit, in collaboration with the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA), Kinnaird College for Women, and the Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, hosted a high-level consultative dialogue and advocacy session titled “Safe Online, Strong Together: Empowering Women and Girls by Reclaiming Safe Digital Spaces.”
The event gathered policymakers, digital rights advocates, private sector leaders, development partners, civil society members, youth, academia, community workers, and media to address the increasing threat of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) and to promote coordinated efforts to create safer online environments for women and girls.
The session commenced with welcome remarks from Prof. Dr. Iram Anjum, Principal of Kinnaird College for Women, followed by the keynote address from Ms. JahanAra Manzoor Wattoo, Vice-Chairperson of the Punjab Social Protection Authority, who emphasised the importance of political leadership in safeguarding women’s digital rights. “In this digital age, where opportunities and threats coexist, this theme highlights the importance of women’s safety. In Punjab, 50,000 cases arose within six months.
This is not merely a gap; it is a national crisis, and a crisis demands action today, not tomorrow. In line with the vision of the Chief Minister of Punjab, we at the Punjab Social Protection Authority are dedicated to advocating for stronger laws, better safeguards, and collaborative efforts to protect every woman and girl across the province.” “Women’s empowerment is all about education, education, and education,” she further stated.
As Pakistan embraces the digital age, women face a concerning new challenge: technology-enabled violence. Digital platforms, designed to offer opportunities in education, employment, and civic participation, have also become instruments for gender-based abuse. This threat—ranging from cyber harassment and stalking to deepfake pornography—is more than just a personal attack; it compromises women’s digital freedom, mental well-being, and social engagement, highlighting the need for urgent and targeted reforms to reclaim safe online spaces for all.
A notable part of the event was an insightful presentation by Mr. Mustansar Feroze, Chief Operating Officer of the Punjab Safe Cities Authority, who highlighted PSCA’s expanding digital safety mechanisms and reporting tools.
“After 25 years in this field, I have concluded that the biggest challenge women face in this society is the stigma that reporting a crime has become a crime itself”
He outlined the PSCA’s initiatives that provide a comprehensive solution for reporting and addressing crimes against women. Inclusivity has been prioritised through features that protect the complainant’s identity and assist the visually and orally impaired. Technology should serve as a safeguard, not a weapon, for women and girls,” he emphasised.
“PSCA is dedicated to enhancing smart, responsive systems — including the Women Safety App — so that every woman in Punjab can access prompt support, report abuse, and regain her digital freedom.”
The programme included a dynamic consultative dialogue featuring diverse experts, including Saman Rai, Commissioner Overseas Pakistanis Commission, Punjab; Mustansar Feroze, Chief Operating Officer, Punjab Safe Cities Authority; Falahat Imran, President, Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Saima Murtaza, Deputy Director Programmes, Punjab Green Development Programme; Amna Omar, Founder and Director, Think Beyond & President OAKS; and Syma Arshad, CEO, She Matters.
Discussions focused on the rising prevalence of digital harassment, AI-enabled abuse, institutional gaps, and the necessity for digital literacy, youth participation, and accountability from technology platforms. The discussants also highlighted the growing issue of digital violence against women, its underlying causes, assessed the scale and complexity of these violations, and explored grassroots approaches to eliminating TFGBV. Interactive student-led activities — including the “Safe Online, Stronger Together” app competition, the “Breaking the Silence” poster competition, and a compelling theatrical performance — further amplified youth voices and solutions.
In his closing remarks, Dr M. Aman Ullah, Project Manager, Punjab SDGs Unit, UNDP Pakistan, reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to promoting gender equality, strengthening institutions, and advancing SDG 5 for safe, inclusive, rights-based digital environments. He also stated that technology can accelerate progress but can also cause harm. It can silence a woman’s voice, deter participation, and reinforce inequality. As part of the UN family, UNDP is dedicated to creating a digital system that is safe, inclusive, and rooted firmly in human rights.
This year’s theme for the 16 Days of Activism, “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls,” closely aligns with Target 5.b of the Sustainable Development Goals — to “enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women.” The journey towards achieving the SDGs, especially SDG 5, requires initiatives like the 16 Days of Activism to assess progress, address emerging challenges such as digital violence, and guide the way towards a more inclusive and equitable digital future for all women and girls.
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