Two time Oscar Award winner, prominent filmmaker and journalist, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy visited the Chief Minister’s Special Monitoring Unit (Law and Order Wing) on 31st October 2016. She was welcomed by Senior Member Law and Order Mr. Salman Sufi who discussed the women-centric reforms initiated by SMU with her. Sharmeen lauded Mr Salman Sufi for taking the lead in such reforms that are changing the face of Punjab in a positive way. Sharmeen and Mr Salman Sufi agreed to strengthen the cooperation to promote and expand SMU reforms and the work Sharmeen is doing to eradicate violence against Women.
Sharmeen appreciated Strategic reforms such as the drafting and passage of the historic legislation, Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016 and its implementation mechanism in the form of Violence Against Women Centers (VAWCs) as well as the Women on Wheels (WoW) campaign were talked about. Sharmeen lauded the efforts of the SMU Team and expressed her support for SMU’s women-centric reforms.
Violence Against Women Centers (VAWC) , first of which is set to be established in Multan within this year and will be the first initiative of its kind in the entire South Asian region as it brings together all justice delivery departments including first aid, police, prosecution and rehabilitation under one roof. The Women on Wheels (WoW) campaign has already been launched in 5 districts of Punjab including Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi and Sargodha and will go on to spread to the rest of the 31 districts as well. Girls trained in these 5 districts will take part in the Women on Wheels (WoW) Mega Rally which will take place this year.
Later on, Director General PHA and Commissioner Lahore also joined the meeting to discuss the inauguration of the Greater Iqbal Park which includes the History Museum and Heroes Gallery within it.