Punjab’s SRU wins ‘Voices of Solidarity Award 2017’

Punjab government’s efforts to end violence against women have earned Pakistan prestigious ‘Voices of Solidarity Award 2017’.

Salman Sufi, Director-General of the Chief Minister Punjab's Strategic Reforms Unit has been selected as an Honoree for the award to be presented by Vital Voices Global Partnership, an organization under the chairmanship of Hillary Clinton on the 4th of December at the IAC HQ, New York City.

The award honors men who have fought and struggled to eliminate violence against women and girls.

The list of men Sufi has joined includes prominent personalities such as former US Vice President Joe Biden, UN Secretary General Antonio Gueterris ,Sir Patrick Stewart, renowned English Actor and Zeid bin Ra’ad al-Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Salman Sufi's dedicated efforts under the guidance of CM Shehbaz Sharif and significant contributions to the cause of women's empowerment in Punjab have earned him the status of a male champion for the cause.

He played an instrumental role in the drafting and passage of the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016, which was the brain child of the chief minister that not only criminalized all forms of violence against women but also enabled the implementation of South Asia's first Violence Against Women Center constructed in Multan, Pakistan.

This center is a one-stop model for women survivors of violence with police, prosecution, medico-legal and counseling services all housed under one roof.

Sufi also serves additional charge for Director General Punjab Women Protection Authority which is a corporate structure charged with replicating VAWCs across Punjab. He has also advocated for female mobility and independence by introducing the Women-on-Wheels Project that provides women with free motorbike training.