Experiences at Police Station: An Ethnographic Study of Women Police Station of Sector G-7 Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract

The establishment of women’s police stations has emerged as a seminal development in the ongoing quest for gender equality and the eradication of violence against women, particularly within the socio-political landscape of Pakistan. Against the backdrop of entrenched patriarchal norms, pervasive gender-based violence, and systemic barriers to justice, women’s police stations signify a paradigmatic shift in the access to police station and protection of women and children’s rights. The inception of women’s police stations in Pakistan is rooted in a confluence of factors, including the pressing need to address the endemic prevalence of gender-based violence and the imperative of mainstreaming gender perspectives within the criminal justice system. The research to transcend the confines of theoretical abstraction, delving into the lived experiences of women who navigate the corridors of women's police stations in pursuit of justice, recourse, and redressal. Through ethnographic tools study highlighted the diverse array of challenges, aspirations, and agency that define the trajectories of women seeking assistance within the criminal justice system. In addition to its empirical inquiry, current study situates the phenomenon of women’s police stations within a broader transnational framework, drawing upon comparative insights from analogous contexts across the globe. By engaging in a dialogic exchange of ideas, experiences, and best practices, the research seeks to catalyze cross-fertilization and mutual learning, fostering a more nuanced understanding of gender-responsive policing and its transformative potential in advancing gender equality and combating violence against women on a global scale.