Take five: “Multisectoral coordination plays a key role in reforming response services to violence against women and girls”

Dr Summaiya Syed-Tariq is the Chief Police Surgeon with the Health Department, Government of Sindh, Pakistan. A specialist in the clinical management of rape and a master trainer in forensic protocols and gender sensitization, she has played a central role in developing Pakistan’s response frameworks to sexual violence. She recently joined the launch of Beyond Training: Changing the Institutional Response to Violence Against Women and Girls, a new UN Women resource that reintroduces the Eight Methods framework(a set of practical approaches for institutional reform, coordination and survivor-centred response) to support systems-level change. We asked Dr Summaiya what real institutional change looks like and how governments can make it happen.

The Beyond Training resource talks about changing systems and structures, not just individual behaviour. What does that kind of change look like in real life, especially in your work with police, doctors or courts?

That kind of change is easier said than done. It must be sustainable. Stakeholders need to understand why change is necessary. Many times, we do not get the desired response because first responders are unaware of what needs to be done, how it could be done and, most importantly, why it should be done.

Pathways must be clearly defined with procedural checklists. Between two service contact points, coordination should follow as straight a line as possible. Only locally available resources are sustainable in the long term. Internationally acceptable tools often need to be dynamically adapted, with tailor-made responses based on the facilities available. A lack of accountability remains the single biggest deterrent to effective staff performance.

You’ve helped develop national guidelines and protocols to support survivors. How can tools like Beyond Training support that kind of work, both in Pakistan and in other countries?

My work on developing national guidelines is constantly evolving, even as we speak. And I feel genuinely proud to say we are already attempting to implement what is so succinctly captured in Beyond Training.

The resource provides a clear pathway for establishing a structural framework to standardize responses to violence against women and girls. It’s a dynamic tool that can be tailored to the sociocultural norms and religious sensitivities of any region.

Ultimately, the goal is a practical, sustainable and cohesive response, one in which all stakeholders clearly understand their responsibilities, scope and limitations. Beyond Training offers a smart baseline that institutions can build upon to develop their own effective response systems.

The resource also highlights the importance of collaborating across sectors. In your experience, how can stronger coordination between services make a difference for survivors?

Multisectoral coordination is key to reforming response services for violence against women and girls. At any given time, depending on the needs of the survivor, three major and four peripheral departments are typically involved. The major departments include health services (encompassing medical care and forensic documentation), investigative bodies and the justice sector (i.e. prosecution). The four peripheral departments include social welfare, child protection services, police (for security) and psychological rehabilitation.

It is strongly advisable for facilities to have a psychologist available from the moment a case is presented. In our model, such services have been well received by survivors.

What advice would you give to frontline professionals who want to create real change in their institutions but don’t always feel they have the power to do so?

Change yourself first. Be clear about what needs to be done. Then figure out how to do it. Only genuine, heartfelt causes bring about meaningful change. Don’t expect accolades. Change, or even thinking about it, is the start of a long, arduous journey.

Start small. Small, simple changes are sustainable. The case documentation form I started improving 25 years ago for case documentation was eventually officially adopted—after nearly 15 years of advocacy.

Finally, why should governments and institutions across the region take a serious look at this resource? What do you hope they will take away from it?

Beyond Training is a comprehensive resource that addresses every aspect of a government’s response to violence against women and girls. Starting from scratch is never easy; this resource provides an efficient baseline. All that remains is to tailor it to your own system and dynamics.

The tool’s “Eight Methods” section outlines the key questions that governments and institutions must ask themselves and, crucially, offers sample answers. With this tool, all that’s needed is the will to act.