Anti-Rape Act gains ground, more cases routed to crisis cells

Islamabad: As the Anti-Rape Special Committee examined implementation of the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act, 2021, data from the Ministry of Law and Justice highlighted significant progress.

Notably, improvements were seen in the establishment and use of anti-rape crisis cells. Both Punjab and Islamabad recorded a rise in the referral of serious sexual violence cases to ARCCs, which enhanced support for survivors.

The committee met here at the law ministry with Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq in the chair. Participants included officials of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, National Database and Registration Authority, the National Police Bureau and provincial home departments, and other key stakeholders.

The participants reviewed progress on three main areas: the rollout of the national sex offenders' register (NSOR), the effectiveness of specialised structures supporting survivors of sexual violence and gender-based crimes, and policy recommendations to enhance the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act's implementation.

The National Police Bureau (NPB) officials highlighted the successful installation of hardware for NSOR at the Gender Crime Cell, marking a key milestone in making the SOR operational. They insisted that the initiative would aid in investigations and prosecutions of sexual violence cases.

The officials also revealed that data for 94 per cent of eligible entries from January 1 to November 30, 2024, had been gathered and was awaiting entry into the NSOR after software updates.

The NADRA officials promised provision of the necessary technical support to ensure prompt data entry. Officials of the home departments assured the committee of effective measures to address the issues pointed out in the meeting, focusing on improving coordination between police and Anti-Rape Crisis Cells (ARCCs) to better support survivors of sexual violence.

The committee also reviewed policy proposals by special committee member and community protection adviser at UPSCALE Zainab Mustafa for strengthening legal framework for managing sex offenders and reducing recidivism.

She called for expanding the NSOR to cover offenders convicted abroad before arriving in Pakistan, tightening monitoring of convicted offenders, and enhancing risk assessments and post-release restrictions. Zainab Mustafa insisted that the proposed measures would reduce the risk of reoffending in sexual violence cases. Participants appreciated the data-driven proposals and agreed to provide feedback in the next session.

Chairperson Ayesha Raza Farooq wrapped up by emphasising that while progress had been made on the implementation of the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act, continued collaboration and effort were imperative to fill gaps and protect vulnerable members of society from sexual violence.