Dr. Luay Shabaneh is the Representative of UNFPA Pakistan. Prior to his current appointment, he served as the Regional Director of UNFPA for the Arab States since 2016.A native of Palestine, Dr. Luay has held several high-profile national and international public service positions over the last two decades in official statistics, population census, population and development, monitoring and evaluation, programme management and advocacy within the UN System, in government and in the multilateral arena.
Fireside
The fireside session with Dr Luay explores how deeply rooted societal norms continue to deny women access to essential services and decision-making power over their own lives. It will also discuss how the access to scarce service is limited, burdened and sometimes denied. The conversation will also shed light on the invisible yet powerful barriers women face when seeking support from institutions such as shelters, police, justice and medico-legal. Through real-world examples and policy perspectives, the session will examine how these norms are upheld by systems meant to protect, and what needs to change at the community, institutional, and policy levels. Set in an intimate fireside format, this discussion invites reflection, dialogue, and collective responsibility in reimagining a society where women can access services and exercise their rights without fear or punishment.
