Gender-based violence can be addressed more effectively when laws are implemented in a way that protects citizens’ rights and improves access to information. In this context, RTI training was highlighted as an important tool for building a more transparent and accountable society in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Shuaib Ahmad, representing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Commission, shared these views during a capacity-building session for Gender Desks across the province in Peshawar. The training was arranged by Mera Ghar-Net in collaboration with the Social Welfare Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with a focus on strengthening efforts to prevent gender-based violence at the grassroots level.
He said the Right to Information law helps marginalized communities access details about opportunities, legal support, government services and policies linked to human rights. According to him, this access is essential for empowering citizens and ensuring that women and other vulnerable groups can seek help and use available services more effectively.
Shuaib Ahmad also said that RTI plays a wider role in promoting equal citizenship by making public information more accessible to everyone, regardless of gender. He added that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Commission is ready to support Gender Desks through specialized RTI training and by providing RTI application forms to strengthen the demand for information at the local level.
