Project Summary

Pakistan continues to face persistent challenges of gender inequality and limited access to justice for women, particularly survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and other human rights violations. Despite constitutional protections and commitments under CEDAW, the Beijing Platform for Action, CRC, and ICCPR, women and girls continue to experience discrimination, violence, and systemic barriers within the justice system.

The legal sector remains largely male-dominated, with women significantly underrepresented in the judiciary, legal profession, and decision-making structures. The absence of female representation in bar association and bar council elections highlights structural exclusion. At the same time, women lawyers—particularly from rural and underdeveloped areas—remain largely invisible or confined to junior roles. Additionally, limited integration of human rights education in legal curricula further weakens rights-based legal practice.

In response, SHARP-Pakistan proposes “Strengthening Her Advocacy for Rights and Protection (SHARP-Women)”, a one-year initiative aimed at empowering young female lawyers as human rights advocates and defenders. The project will strengthen their technical, legal, and advocacy skills while promoting engagement with bar councils, legal institutions, and relevant stakeholders.

Through the development of a cadre of trained Women Human Rights Champions, the initiative will foster sustainable professional networks to enhance survivors’ access to justice, advance gender equality, and support Pakistan’s compliance with international human rights commitments.

Project Goal

To strengthen gender-responsive legal protection and justice pathways for survivors of GBV and other human rights violations by capacitating young female lawyers, enhancing their leadership roles, and establishing sustainable, community-centered legal support networks.

Objectives

1. Capacity Building: Enhance the legal, ethical, and advocacy skills of 100 young female lawyers on national and international frameworks related to women’s rights, GBV, and human rights protection, including CEDAW, CRC, ICCPR, and relevant domestic laws.
2. Support Network Formation: Establish and institutionalize a network of 20 Women Human Rights Champions, who will provide survivor-centered, pro bono legal services, awareness sessions, and community outreach.
3. Systems Strengthening & Awareness: Foster collaboration among bar councils, courts, prosecutors, law enforcement, universities, and civil society for improved survivor referrals, legal coordination, and gender-sensitive justice.
4. Sustainability & Leadership: Equip women lawyers with mentorship, practical toolkits, and institutional partnerships to sustain engagement, advocacy, and leadership in promoting women’s rights and justice reform.

Expected Outputs

• 100 young female lawyers trained and professionally capacitated.
• 20 Women Human Rights Champions actively providing pro bono legal support and community outreach.
• At least 10 coordination meetings held with bar councils, judicial officers, government departments, and civil society partners.
• Five practical knowledge products (training handbooks, guides, digital toolkits) developed and disseminated.

Expected Outcomes

• Enhanced access to justice for survivors of GBV and other human rights violations.
• Increased visibility, confidence, and leadership of women lawyers in rights-based advocacy and justice reform.
• Strengthened institutional coordination among justice sector actors and improved gender responsiveness within legal systems.
• Improved implementation of Pakistan’s obligations under CEDAW, CRC, ICCPR, SDG 5, and other international human rights instruments, contributing to a more equitable, inclusive society.
• Empowered women lawyers serving as agents of change, breaking barriers in male-dominated legal spheres and advancing women’s rights, dignity, and leadership.