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PLD 2021 Federal Statutes 638 PLD 2021 Federal Statutes 638 ACT XXX OF 2021 ANTI-RAPE (INVESTIGATION AND TRIAL) ACT, 2021 An Act to ensure expeditious redressal of rape and sexual abuse crimes in respect of women and children through special investigation teams and special Courts providing for efficacious procedures, speedy trial, evidence and matters connected therewith or incidental thereto; [Gazette of Pakistan Extraordinary, Part I, 4th December, 2021] No. F. 22(3)/2021-Legis, dated 3.12.2021.---The following Act of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) received the assent of the President on the 1st December, 2021 is hereby published for general information:- It is hereby enacted as follows:- 11. Independent support advisers.---(1) If so determined by the anti-rape crisis cell, an independent support adviser shall accompany the victim during Court proceedings, in order to reduce the risk of duress, victimization of any nature, or any adversity afflicted or likely to be afflicted upon the victim. (2) The special committee, in consultation with the ministry of human rights, shall prepare a list of independent support advisers at district or tehsil levels. (3) For the purposes of subsection (2), the special committee shall, in consultation with the ministry of human rights, enlist a civil society or a non- governmental organization, whose members or nominees may act as independent support advisers. (4) An independent support adviser shall be a person having skills to deal with victims of scheduled offences, who may be a psychologist, or a doctor, or a lawyer, or a para-legal, or a lady-health worker, or a social worker, or a person who is a member or nominee of a civil society or a non-governmental organization enlisted under subsection (3).