LocationsOver 100 women lawyers participate in UNDP’s flagship conference
October 21, 2022
Peshawar, 20 October 2022 — United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Bar Council, organized the second edition of its flagship, “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Annual Women Lawyers’ Conference 2022,” with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The annual networking conference for women lawyers in KP including Merged Areas provided participants with a platform to connect and collectively discuss challenges, and opportunities for growth in the legal profession. “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Annual Women Lawyers’ Conference” was first organized by UNDP in 2019 to bring together women lawyers in KP.
Celebrating the remarkable achievements of women lawyers in KP, the conference also focused on legislative and procedural reforms to make justice more accessible for women seeking legal advice and legal aid. Ways to strengthen the KP Bar Council’s role in addressing the challenges faced by women in their legal education and profession were also discussed during the conference.
Mr Muhammad Sarir Khan, Chairperson KP Bar Council highlighted during his speech, “KP Bar Council is committed to creating more opportunities for the growth and higher representation of women lawyers in the Bar.” He also expressed his gratitude to UNDP and USAID for their continuous support in empowering women lawyers in KP.
Ms Caitlin Chittenden, Senior Rule of Law and Justice Reforms Specialist at UNDP Pakistan reiterated, “Supporting women to join and succeed in the legal profession is integral to building a justice system that is inclusive and has gender equality at its centre. A justice sector which represents both women and men equally ensures fairness, and public trust and increases opportunities to make voices and needs of communities heard.”
Participants during the conference highlighted that initiatives like these are key in bringing together women lawyers from across the region to celebrate their achievements, voice their concerns, and find opportunities for growth. The conference concluded with reflections from the chief guest, Muhammad Sarir Khan, Chairperson Legal Aid Committee, KP Bar Council.
UNDP Pakistan’s Rule of Law Programme is implementing a range of interventions to strengthen security and justice sector governance in Pakistan.
For additional information, please contact Ayesha Babar at ayesha.babar@undp.org or +92 (51) 835 5650
### ### ###
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.
Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP
