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Good practice Imported

Multan Violence Against Women Centre (VAWC) — Punjab's One-Stop Model for GBV Survivors

Pakistan · Multan · See the Pakistan profile

Evidence: Observational / pre–post Top 67% 52/100 · Ask Evidence Copilot about this practice

Pakistan's first one-stop centre for GBV survivors, opened in Multan in 2017, integrates police, medical, legal and shelter referral under one roof. It logged 3,694 complaints by 2019, but independent reporting found only 147 FIRs and 1 conviction from 4,104 cases by 2021.

3,694
Complaints received (opening-Sept 2019) (2017-2019)
75 %
Client satisfaction rate (2019)
147 of 4,104
FIRs resulting from complaints (by end 2021)
1
Convictions secured (by end 2021)
Multan Violence Against Women Centre (VAWC) — Punjab's One-Stop Model for GBV Survivors

Details

Maturity
Established
Promoter
Government of Punjab — Women Development Department / Punjab Women Protection Authority
Period
2017–present
Keywords
justice, policing, health, social services

Context

Established in March 2017 under the Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Act, the Multan VAWC was Pakistan's first purpose-built one-stop centre for GBV survivors, combining police, medical, legal and shelter services under one roof.

Activities

It operates 24/7 with mostly women staff, and the Lahore High Court assigned two dedicated judges to hear VAWC cases; the province committed to replicating the model in Bahawalpur and Lahore.

Results

Between opening and September 2019 the centre received 3,694 complaints, and a 2019 Government of Punjab/UN Women study found a 75% client-satisfaction rate; but a Loksujag investigation found only 147 of 4,104 complaints (3.6%) by end-2021 resulted in an FIR, and just 1 conviction.

Conclusions

The same investigation documented chronic under-staffing and funding shortfalls, illustrating the gap between an innovative service-delivery design and the resourcing needed to deliver justice outcomes.

Implementation
Indicative cost
Medium (€50k–€500k)
Time to results
Medium (1–3 years)
Staffing & skills
police, medical, legal and shelter staff under one roof, two dedicated Lahore High Court judges

Conditions for success

  • 24/7 integrated one-stop service
  • adequate staffing and lab equipment

Common failure modes

  • chronic under-staffing (six major posts vacant)
  • funding shortfalls and irregular pay
  • only 3.6% of complaints resulted in an FIR

Commonly funded by

National / regional programmes

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Data sources

Where this practice's information was retrieved from, and when.

Attachments

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