Karachi, PK – 22 Jun 2023 – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST) University joined forces to organize a three-day engaging session for media capacity building aimed at fostering a better understanding of the legal framework surrounding offenses against healthcare workers. The event, titled “Sindh Health Service Providers and Facilities (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2021 and the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2018 – Legal Framework for Journalists Understanding Offences Against Healthcare Workers,” took place today at a local hotel in Karachi.
The engagement session brought together esteemed guests, including healthcare professionals, legal experts, media practitioners, and representatives from various organizations, to shed light on the legal provisions safeguarding healthcare workers and their facilities. The event aimed to enhance awareness, promote ethical reporting, and encourage collaborative solutions to address the alarming rise in violence against healthcare professionals.
Dr. Syeda Mehwish Zara Zaidi, Head of the Department of Media Sciences at the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST) shared her views and said, “This partnership between SZABIST and ICRC is very important for us. This partnership enables us to create new knowledge and awareness for the masses, public policy professionals, law enforcement agencies, healthcare professionals, and other institutes” She further said, “Through these interactions, we are able to build the capacity of the media professionals and field reporters to report on creating awareness about the law and rights of the people in the society. These interactions have created a positive dialogue to build an understanding of the Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property Act, 2021, and how to report incidents in a more ethical and fact-based manner.
Dr. Muhammad Bilal Siddiqui, a leading public health specialist and faculty member of SZABIST, delivered a talk on the Health Care in Danger Initiative (HcID) and the significance of its dissemination campaign. The initiative aims to protect healthcare workers and preserve healthcare facilities in conflict zones and other volatile environments.
Renowned legal expert and law faculty of SZABIST, Barrister Rufruf Chaudhary provided an overview of the Sindh Health Service Providers and Facilities (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2021, along with insights into the relevant provisions of the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2018. This comprehensive legal framework aims to prevent violence, damage to property, and obstruction of healthcare services while ensuring the safety and security of healthcare professionals.
Barrister Chaudhary, during the engagement session, provided an overview of the legal framework pertaining to offenses against healthcare workers. The Sindh Health Service Providers and Facilities (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2021, along with the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2018, were highlighted for their significance in safeguarding healthcare professionals and their facilities.
The Sindh Health Service Providers and Facilities Act, 2021, prohibits any offense against a person within a healthcare facility or against a healthcare provider while performing their duties. It recognizes the gravity of acts causing death or hurt, with corresponding punishments under the law. Additionally, the Act addresses acts causing damage to property, whether private or public and provides provisions for penalties. The Act further identifies act…
