Gender-based violence (GBV) is a pervasive issue in Pakistan, and even when prosecutions proceed, conviction rates remain below 5%. Survivors face considerable systemic barriers such as a slow-moving legal process, a lack of sensitization among court staff, and inadequate forensic procedures, made worse by the social stigma attached to women seeking justice.

More than 56% of GBV survivors in Pakistan never report their experiences or seek help.  In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, women face additional challenges, including security concerns and restrictive socio-cultural norms.

Recognizing the urgency of protecting the most vulnerable through a more responsive justice system, UNDP made an early, substantial investment of US$900,000 from core funding, as a catalytic seed fund to pilot a Rule of Law programme in the Malakand division of KP. The initiative aimed to expand access to justice and legal aid, especially for women, children, refugees, and internally displaced persons. The most significant achievement of this core funding was its ability to inspire investment, leading the local government to contribute 25% of the total programme cost. This cost-sharing arrangement demonstrated the government's strong ownership and commitment, which played a crucial role in gaining the trust of additional donors and encouraging them to partner with the programme.

The effect of this initial investment of US$900,000 proved significant, laying the foundation for a whole-of-sector, multi-donor, and multi-stakeholder Rule of Law programme. The government cost-sharing arrangement with KP led to investments in the programme from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United States, the European Union, and Japan. Since 2012, the programme has mobilized nearly US$70 million in funding, increasing the investment to over seventy-fold, and extending its reach across the country to Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan. 

In 2021, the European Union funded a €20 million ‘Deliver Justice Programme’ to further consolidate and expand access to justice, particularly for women and marginalized communities in KP and Balochistan. Noteworthy among its results, UNDP equipped over 270 court staff and 250 women lawyers with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and adopt survivor-centric approaches to providing legal services. To ensure maximum community engagement and impact, the programme, alongside civil society organizations, conducted awareness-raising sessions on legal aid and community access to justice for nearly 4800 participants.

“For the first time, I learned how crucial empathy is in supporting GBV survivors. This training has changed how I approach survivors and handle their cases,” shared a 20-year veteran court official who participated in one of the GBV orientations rolled out under the ‘Deliver Justice Programme.’

For the community, the impact is evident, tangible, and measurable.

Defying her community’s gender norms in Balochistan, Advocate Ghazala struggled for decades to study law and obtain her license to practice.  Ghazala was just thirteen years old when her sister was murdered by perpetrators who would never face justice. Driven by her love and grief, she is one of 250 lawyers trained under the programme to provide legal aid services to the marginalized. Advocate Ghazala has provided legal aid services to over 20 families on issues related to domestic violence and child custody since 2023.

 

Sana, a Support Assistant at the Child Protection Court in Kohat, was also among those trained under this initiative. “The training gave me the skills to guide a survivor in my neighborhood to separate from her abusive husband and secure custody of her children,” she explains. Now, Sana plays a pivotal role in ensuring survivors in her community have regular, safe access to justice, and quality professional support.

 

Without core resources as an initial investment, the drive and motivation of these advocates may have remained dormant, depriving thousands of access to rights, mechanisms for the peaceful resolution of disputes, and opportunities for more joyful and safer lives. Core funds enabled UNDP to show proof of concept and demonstrate the viability of survivor and people-centered justice reforms. In fact, core funding has long been central to UNDP’s role in strengthening justice systems not only in Pakistan, but globally. From supporting early legal aid programs to pioneering people-centered approaches, UNDP’s sustained presence has helped shape policies that safeguard human rights and ensure access to justice for all.

As UNDP celebrates 60 years of impact and the UNDP Pakistan Rule of Law Programme celebrates its 15th anniversary, sustaining and increasing core contributions is vital to our work, our partners, and our beneficiaries. To invest in core resources is to invest in a future that empowers people, protects rights, and drives us toward a more just and prosperous world.