Key populations in Pakistan, have faced a range of legal problems and human rights challenges. Key Population and PLHIV have often faced discrimination, harassment, and violence in various aspects of their lives, including education, employment, healthcare, and housing. This discrimination can be both systemic and societal in nature. KPs and PLHIV have been disproportionately targeted for violence and hate crimes. Physical and sexual violence against them has been a serious concern, often leading to serious physical and psychological harm.

Ms Shumaila Tanvir, National Manager Programmes shared that the vast majority of cases referred to Legal Aid Desk Officers deal with issues like discrimination or other rights violations in health services, employment and housing opportunities, custody rights, unethical or abusive police behavior, prosecutions for sex workers and drug users, assaulting women and transgender people, issues with housing, disagreements over property, and family. A Visitor Database at Legal Aid Desks serves several important purposes in providing efficient and effective legal assistance.

• Enabled Legal Aid Desks to provide better assistance to their clients, improve their services over time, and contribute to a more just and equitable legal system.
• Supported AF and legal aid desk officer to identify patterns and trends in the types of cases that are most common or urgent. This information helps them allocate resources more effectively and adapt their services to meet the changing needs of their clients.

Facilitated the Legal Aid Desk to schedule appointments and provide updates on case progress.

This ensures that clients receive comprehensive assistance throughout the legal process. Aurat Foundation organized the 16 legal awareness sessions with 329 participants in ten districts of Punjab and Sindh.