Reflective Session on Gender-Based Violence Reduction Dr. Jassim Taqui DG, Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies Islamabad August 31, 2023, AMBASSADOR BLOME: It’s wonderful to be here today for this important event we’re convening to discuss how communities and especially religious leaders, as well, can work with the justice system to help prevent and address gender-based violence. This is an issue that’s very important to the United States.  This event is an indication of the partnership we’ve established with our Pakistani partners to try to work to address this very difficult issue.  We’ve done several things together that I would like to highlight. We’ve worked to improve the law enforcement response to gender-based violence, including by training victim support officers. We’ve worked to establish networks of pro-bono lawyers to provide legal services to survivors of gender-based violence. And we’ve established women’s desks at police stations to provide access to criminal justice for women who are victims of this type of violence. I appreciate being here today to hear from our partners about what more we can do to ensure that legal protections for women and girls are in place. And I would just point out the courageous folks, many of whom are in this room, who work on these issues every day. They are the ones on the front lines who are making it happen, so much appreciation to all of them. Thank you very much