The SHARP-Women Capacity-Building Programme for Young Women Lawyers on Human Rights, Gender-Responsive Justice and Prevention of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) continued with an engaging and practical Day 2 at the Federal Judicial Academy (FJA), Islamabad.
The day brought together 25 young women lawyers for discussions and practical learning focused on GBV, legal protection, professional ethics, leadership, and survivor-centred legal support. The sessions were conducted in the presence of Mr. Aatif Afzal, Project Director, SHARP, and Mr. Jehanzeb Shinwari, Senior Director (Administration & Finance), FJA.
The day began with an interactive discussion led by Ms. Sonia, SHARP Project Coordinator, who invited participants to reflect on their learning from Day 1 and share their experiences and perspectives on GBV. The discussion explored GBV-related judgments, the experiences of survivors and accused persons, in-camera court proceedings, counselling, and the importance of building trust with survivors. She emphasized the vital role women lawyers can play in providing awareness, empathy, legal guidance, and support to survivors.
The second session was led by Ms. Malieka Farah Deeba, Associate Professor, Ibadat International University, focusing on national and international legal instruments for the protection of women from GBV. Participants explored Pakistan’s constitutional and legal framework, relevant GBV legislation, the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010, and the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act, 2021, strengthening their understanding of the legal protections and responsibilities of legal professionals in ensuring justice, dignity, and safety for survivors.
The programme then moved to an interactive session by Mr. Syed Muhammad Haroon, Faculty Member, FJA, on Leadership, Ethics and Professional Responsibilities. The session highlighted professional ethics, confidentiality, judicial conduct, access to justice, and the qualities required for responsible leadership in the legal profession.
A key focus was placed on three essential professional relationships:
🔹 Advocate and Court
🔹 Advocate and Client
🔹 Advocate, Profession and Society
Through an open exchange of experiences and perspectives, participants reflected on the importance of integrity, responsibility, empathy and ethical leadership in strengthening the legal profession.
Following the session, Mr. Aatif Afzal, Project Director, SHARP, presented the Facilitators’ Master Edition of the Programme Handbook to Mr. Haroon as a token of appreciation for his valuable contribution and expertise.
The final session of Day 2 was led by Ms. Samman Aman, Protection Counsellor (Clinical Psychologist), SHARP-Pakistan, on “Trauma-Informed Legal Support.” The session explored the psychological impact of trauma on survivors of GBV and emphasized empathetic communication, survivor-sensitive interviewing, confidentiality, and the Do-No-Harm principle in legal practice.
The session concluded with an engaging practical role-play and group activity, “Handling Cases with Sensitivity & Ethics,” where participants rotated through the roles of lawyer, survivor and observer. Through these exercises, they practised trauma-informed communication, legal advice, sensitive documentation, and constructive peer feedback.
A facilitated group debrief brought together the day’s key learning, encouraging participants to reflect on how sensitivity, empathy, confidentiality and ethical practice can contribute to safer and more effective legal support for survivors of GBV.
Day 2 strengthened not only legal knowledge, but also the human, ethical and professional dimensions of advocacy — equipping young women lawyers to approach justice with competence, compassion and integrity.
