On Friday, KARACHI opened a shelter for victims of sexual violence, which was much needed in the city.
With adequate protection in place, the Anti-Rape Crisis Cell (ARCC) in the Police Surgeon Office, Civil Hospital, will be open 24/7. The center will be a lifeline for those who have endured the tragedy, providing them with medical care, counseling, and legal representation.
Males, females, and transgender people will all receive assistance and medical and legal guidance from the center.
The establishment of the ARCC is indicative of a concerted effort to deal with sexual abuse and give victims the tools they need to pursue justice and healing.
The opening of this center is a major achievement in the fight for sexual assault victims’ rights to justice and safety.
As part of the Tahaffuz project and with funding from the United States Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, the Sindh health department and UN Women opened the first ARCC.
It’s worth noting that all across Sindh, the provincial government is responsible for constructing 27 of these centers.
“We have also made a one-room safe house for the rape victim if the survivor doesn’t go back home,” explained Dr. Summaiya Syed, a police surgeon.
Dr. Syed gave a briefing to the press about the services available to the survivors.
During an interview with The Express Tribune, she stated, “at least three to four cases of sexual violence are being reported in the city regularly.” The three tertiary care institutions in the city, she noted, are Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC), Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. “The second facility will be established at JPMC,” she revealed.
“We need to sensitize the people and the best way is to approach thousands of elected volunteers,” said Qasim Siraj Soomro, the parliamentary health secretary. “These are the local government’s representatives in each union council.” He continued by saying that the province government is committed to ending sexual violence and giving victims every resource they need.
Speakers at the inauguration event included US Consul General in Karachi Nicole Theriot, who spoke about the international community’s solidarity in the battle against sexual abuse and the need of protecting the rights of survivors.
The people of Sindh province, where the first ARCC was set up, have a lot to be proud of. I applaud the efforts of the Sindh government and UN Women in creating the ARCC. Sexual violence is a worldwide problem that calls for international solutions. The worldwide community supports the fight against sexual violence and the provision of support services and legal recourse for victims.
Karachi’s mayor, Murtaza Wahab, called the ARCC’s creation a major step forward in resolving a serious issue, and he pledged the government’s unwavering support as the ARCC works to make the city and the country safer for everyone. We have come together to preserve the rights and dignity of every citizen, and today is a historic day as we launch the Anti-Rape Crisis Cell to do just that. As a society, we are all responsible for making sure that survivors of sexual violence get the help and justice they need to heal.
Younas Khalid, the UN Women representative, emphasized the importance of ARCC as the foundation of unified assistance for rape survivors. When it comes to ending sexual violence and protecting rape survivors’ rights and safety, the Arkansas Rape Crisis Center (ARCC) is a vital support system. According to him, “these cells play a pivotal role in empowering survivors to reclaim their lives and seek justice by providing consolidated services and support.”
The victim will also be paid under Section-17 of the Anti-Rape Act 2021, according to Usama Malik, the point person for the Special Committee on Anti-Rape Law. “Today, we mark a watershed moment in the never-ending quest for justice and security for all citizens. The formation of this unit demonstrates how seriously our government takes the issue of sexual violence and how well different groups are working together to combat it.
