Gender-Based Violence Court (Lahore)

Brief Description

In 2017, the Lahore High Court and district judiciary Lahore inaugurated Pakistan’s first Gender Based Violence Court. Conceived as an institution to streamline cases involving female survivors of VAW, it makes provision for extraordinary measures to support survivors, ensure speedy and confidential trials, reduce harassment and provide security against reprisals to survivors. After its inauguration in October 2017, 123 cases involving VAW in Lahore were transferred to the jurisdiction of the Special Court. These cases include inter alia rape, gang-rape, kidnapping/abduction, wrongful confinement, and sexual abuse. In December 2017, cases pending were at different stages of trial and the list of cases reveals inordinate delays and excessive lapse of time since the registration of the first information report (FIR).