PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department has planned the establishment of anti-rape crisis cells at all district headquarters hospitals in the province to ensure medical and legal assistance to victims of sexual assaults in line with the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act, 2021.

It has directed all 26 district headquarters hospitals (DHQs) to establish and operationalise these cells, according to officials.

They said that the step had been taken after consultation with the chief secretary and the law and justice ministry to improve the legal system, enhance investigative procedures and address societal attitudes for fair and effective adjudication.

The officials said the department had instructed the hospitals to establish and notify the cells in relation to offences reflected in the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial Act, 2021) and to ensure speedy redressal of rape and sexual abuse crimes through investigation by providing efficacious procedures and evidence collection regarding the cases.

Officials say initiative taken in consultation with chief secretary, law ministry

They said the DHQ hospitals should allocate appropriate space preferably on the ground floor for establishment of anti-rape crisis cells, which should comprise two rooms for examination of male and female victims, attached bathrooms and waiting area.

The officials said the health department had told medical superintendents of the hospitals to submit reports to the office of the director-general (health services) within a week.

They added that the reports submitted by hospitals would be sent to high-ups for examination.

The officials told Dawn that decision on rape cases often faced delays due to forensic processes, adherence to legal procedures, court case backlogs, investigation complexities, challenges in witness cooperation, the need for thorough legal representation, potential appeals and consideration of the psychological impact on survivors, so those cells would provide the timely assistance.

They said the initiative would not only streamline legal processes but would also lead to improved investigations and increased public awareness as doctors would compile reports on the spots to help victims in the court of law.

The officials said the perpetrators of such crimes often went unpunished due to a lack of forensic evidence.

They said the anti-rape crisis cells aimed to ensure safety and protection of victims and punishment of culprits.

The officials said samples for semen analysis and the provision of legal assistance would be carried out on time, while the availability of sufficient evidence would lead to the conviction of culprits.

They said the proposed facilities would ensure that survivors of gender-based violence are provided with quicker response services under one roof.

The officials said rape was an ugly crime that caused lifelong pain and psychological trauma to the victims.

They said by all means, rape was a crisis that needed a collective response, so the anti-rape crisis cells would spread awareness to people regarding the availability of assistance in such cases.

The officials said in many cases, the accused confessed to the crime in the custody of the police, but in courts, they denied any wrongdoing as forensic evidence was collected “belatedly or in an incorrect way.”

They said women shouldn’t bathe after being raped until samples were collected.

The officials said those victims could contact anti-rape crisis cells in their respective districts for free medical examinations and tests.

They said the cells would help the health department have complete data of rape cases, as presently, there was no authentic such data in the province.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2025