The document summarizes the establishment and guidelines of a new Gender Based Violence Court in Lahore, Pakistan. The GBV Court was established in October 2017 to prioritize gender violence cases following new guidelines approved by the Lahore High Court. These guidelines created protections for victims such as a separate waiting area, use of video testimony, and female support staff. Since its establishment, the GBV Court has convicted perpetrators in 16.25% of cases compared to just 2.74% in ordinary courts, demonstrating the benefits of specialized courts for vulnerable witnesses. Stakeholders are working to improve the response further through additional training and awareness campaigns.

2.  Hon’ble Chief Justice Lahore High Court,
Lahore Syed Mansoor Ali Shah on 17th
October, 2017 issued the Gender Equality
Policy 2017.
 In pursuance of the Gender Equality Policy
2017, the Hon’ble Lahore High Court Lahore
approved guidelines for GBV Court in the
light of Salman Akram Raja case.

3.  The Hon’ble Lahore High Court, Lahore
prioritized the Gender Based Violence cases.
 On this idea, a new Court has been
established on 23rd October, 2017.
 The international best practices followed by
this Court such as court room setup,
responsive to the needs of women and other
vulnerable witnesses.

4.  In pursuance of these guidelines, Practice
Note for GBV Court issued by Hon’ble Lahore
High Court, Lahore.
 The Practice Note contains the following:-
◦ Purpose of the Court
◦ Set of the court room (inside and outside)
◦ Use of E-Court Room
◦ Use of Screen
◦ Process for the trial and taking of evidence

5. ◦ Process for taking the evidence of victim and
witnesses
◦ Concerned regarding security of victim and
witnesses
◦ Female Support Officer
◦ Female Prosecutor
◦ Protection Orders
◦ Procedures on resiling statement of victim and
other witnesses
◦ Procedure where victim does not attend court
◦ Power of Court to ask questions or call the
witnesses etc.

6.  Speedy Trial
 Comfortable atmosphere of court
 Maximum 10 cases enlisted for a day (as ordinary
courts also deal with other sessions trial other
than 376 PPC)
 Separate room for victim/witnesses
 Audio/Video trial
 Female Support Officer
 Female Prosecutor
 Protection to the victim and witnesses (inside and
outside of the court)

7.  Confidence of victim/witnesses and accused
on Court
 Mental peace and security for victim and
witnesses
 More result in less time
 Protection of identity of victim and witnesses

8.  Try to remove fear from child’s mind
 Give them comfortable atmosphere for
evidence
 Recording their statement in a natural way
(including denemour of child)
 Provide proper counseling by Prosecutor for
detramatization

9.  In ordinary court female get pressurized easily as
in GBV court , court provide them protection and
security.
 As it is first court on Gender crime so the victim
feel very comfortable and consider it victim’s
OWN court.
 Frequent adjournments avoided by GBV court and
dispose of trial early.
 Facilities available in the GBV court like E video
trial , screening , female support officer and
female prosecutor make this court different.

10.  With regard to all these guidelines, practice
notes, amendments, a great change in conviction
comes up.
 In GBV Court, 80 cases have been decided out of
which 13 convictions awarded by this Court
including death penalty. Whereas three other
Courts (in which other trial also adjudicated) and
also adjudicating the trial u/s 376 PPC ,
conviction rate is less because of other
assignments.
 The comparison of GBV Court with other three
Courts is given as under:-

11. Number of
Decided Cases
Number of
Conviction
Percentage
GBV Court 80 13 16.25%
Other Courts 137 02 02.74%

12.  Separate GBV Wing established by Police
Department to investigate these matter with
serious concern
 To improve the investigation, different
meetings held by all stakeholders like
Judiciary, Prosecution, Police
 Lectures delivered by learned GBV Judge and
learned Prosecutor on collection of evidence
admissibility of evidence

13.  Prosecutor discussed with GBV IOs to prepare
report u/s 173 Cr.P.C. with great caution and
care
 Also discussed with them how to record
evidence of victim, child and vulnerable
witness
 Also enhanced capacity building of GBV IOs
as this offence is of heinous nature

14.  More GBV courts be established in Lahore as
well as in other districts
 More training would be schedule for
concerned stakeholders( Judiciary,
Prosecution, Police)
 Proper awareness be provided by electronic
as well print media
 Sufficient budget be allocated for this court
as meet out the needs of vulnerable, child
and women victim/witnesses

15.  Gender based violence cell should be
established by Govt of Punjab in consultation
with Chief Justice having all the basic facilities
to victims , vulnerable witnesses in shape of
shelter, treatment, rehabilitation and
initiation of putting the criminal law in
motion.
 Proper training should be provided to Medico
Legal Officers dealing with GBV cases.
 Frequent meetings with concerned sections
should be held.