CJP calls for gender-responsive justice, announces reform agenda to improve women’s access to courts

ISLAMABAD, Mar 07 (APP):The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) has reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to protecting women’s rights and improving their access to justice, announcing a comprehensive gender-responsive justice reform agenda for 2026–27.

In a message issued on International Women’s Day, the Chief Justice said women play a central role in Pakistan’s social, economic and civic life and their resilience and leadership continue to shape the country’s present and future.

He said the occasion provides an opportunity not only to recognize women’s contributions but also to renew the constitutional commitment to ensuring dignity, justice and a safe environment for all women.

The Chief Justice noted that the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees equality before the law and prohibits discrimination based on gender, adding that these guarantees are binding obligations for all public institutions, particularly the judiciary, as custodian of the Constitution.

He observed that despite constitutional protections, many women in Pakistan still face difficulties in accessing justice due to entrenched social norms, procedural gaps and fear of social stigma or retaliation. These challenges, he said, are often more severe for women in rural, marginalized and economically disadvantaged communities.

Acknowledging these realities, the Chief Justice said the judiciary is committed to ensuring that equality before the law becomes a practical reality so that women can approach the justice system with dignity and confidence.

He said the judiciary has taken several affirmative steps over the years to strengthen the protection of women’s rights and promote gender-sensitive adjudication through judicial education and sensitization. The Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan has also been working on policy reforms aimed at reviewing laws and legal processes that disproportionately affect women and other vulnerable groups.

According to the message, the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee has placed gender-responsive justice at the centre of the judiciary’s reform agenda for 2026–27 to make the justice system more accessible, responsive and supportive for women across the country.

As part of the reform programme, the committee plans to establish Women Facilitation Centres in court complexes across Pakistan to provide dedicated one-window support services in a safe environment for women litigants.

The agenda also includes institutionalizing free legal aid and advisory services for women in collaboration with bar councils, including the establishment of a legal advisory helpline to provide immediate legal advice and referrals to pro bono lawyers.

Other planned measures include strengthening mediation and family support services within the court system to promote amicable resolution of family disputes, reviewing family laws through the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan to enhance their gender responsiveness, and developing a framework for gender-fair language in judicial proceedings, legal drafting and institutional communication.

The reform programme also emphasizes expanding legal awareness initiatives to improve legal literacy among women, particularly in rural and marginalized communities, enabling them to better understand and exercise their legal rights.

The Chief Justice said the judiciary remains committed to creating safe and respectful judicial workplaces and promoting reforms that expand access to justice while ensuring gender equality remains a central pillar of the justice sector.

He stressed that the strength of a just society is measured by the dignity, freedom and equality it affords its women, adding that protecting and advancing women’s rights is essential for the realization of justice in Pakistan.