**NCSW and UNICEF Pakistan Conduct Intensive Workshop to Advance Gender and Child Rights in Federal Ministries**
The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), in partnership with UNICEF Pakistan, has recently concluded a comprehensive three-day workshop aimed at strengthening gender equality and child rights capacity among federal ministries. Held in Murree, the workshop brought together Gender Focal Persons from various federal institutions to equip them with tools and knowledge for more inclusive policy design and implementation.
The training, themed “Gender Equality & Child Rights – Pathway to Equality,” focused on crucial areas such as Gender and Child Rights-based Programming, Results-Based Management (RRBM), Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB), and practical tools for creating inclusive government policies. Through interactive sessions, participants enhanced their ability to integrate gender perspectives into every stage of planning and programming within their respective ministries.
Chairperson of the NCSW, Ms. Ume-Laila Azhar, commended the trainers’ commitment and the active engagement of the ministry representatives. She emphasized the importance of applying the ‘gender lens’ developed during the workshop to all interventions and policy documents, including PC-1 forms. Ms. Azhar underscored the necessity for adopting results-based management reporting and aligning ministry work with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as critical steps for measuring real impact.
“We must ensure equality is embedded in every step of our planning and programming,” Ms. Azhar stated, highlighting the responsibility of the trained focal persons to mainstream gender equality and child rights throughout government operations.
NCSW reaffirmed its commitment to leading the transformation toward a more equitable governance framework in Pakistan, expressing confidence that the newly trained officials will play a pivotal role in sustaining progress on gender and child rights initiatives across federal ministries.
