The Rise in Violence against Women: A matter of concern

0
103
The-Rise-in-Violence-against-Women-A-matter-of-concern #Baaghi

Pakistan is an Islamic country, but unfortunately, the increasing incidence of violence against women in Pakistan is a matter of concern, mainly due to poor investigation and lack of justice. 

In this regard, we review the situation and events. Women in Pakistan are facing a lot of problems. From harassment at work to brutal killings, Pakistani women are usually abused. According to Human Rights Watch, 70% to 90% of women in Pakistan have experienced some form of abuse.

In 2005, a study interviewed 176 married men about their views on domestic violence in Karachi. 46% said men have the right to beat their wives, while 65% saw their mothers being physically abused. The level of violence against women is very high in Pakistan due to misinterpretation of Islam. Husbands or in-laws usually commit crimes such as violence against women.

In 2003, a study in Islamabad involved 216 married women. Of these women, 96.8% experienced some form of domestic abuse. Allegedly, 80% of the perpetrators are husbands and 17% are mothers or stepmothers. Physical violence against women is not the only form of abuse. There are many types, of which domestic violence is becoming common in Pakistan because men are considered the sole owners and guardians of their wives. Whereas, According to Islamic teachings, women’s rights are also taken into account.

In 1999, a report interviewed 70 men aged 24-45, of whom 54 agreed to have consensual relationships with their wives. In 2015, a study of violence against wives in Pakistan found that individual reports of sexual violence among women were 77%, physical 50%, and psychological 90%.

In Pakistan, despite sharia compulsion, marital abuse often leads to unwanted pregnancies. In 2002, there were 2.4 million unintended pregnancies. As a result of which 900,000 abortions took place. Due to the lack of safe methods of abortion in Pakistan, 200,000 women were hospitalized due to complications, and 1 out of every 10 women died.

There is a great lack of awareness about women’s rights in Pakistan as it is generally perceived as anti-Islamic. It should be noted here that according to Islamic teachings, the husband has the honor of being the head of the family, but that doesn’t mean that the husband has the right to deprive the wife of her rights because women are considered much respected in Islam.

In Pakistan, women also face harassment and abuse in public. According to the Helpline, 93% of women in Pakistan have experienced physical violence in public. 56% of the complaints they receive are from women and 13% from men. Since 2015, there have been 22,000 reported cases of abuse in Pakistan, with an average of 11 reported daily, with a conviction rate of only 0.3%.

On the other hand, in today’s advanced era women are facing cyberbullying, and being blackmailed through Photoshopped pictures. In this connection, the FIA ​​received 8,500 complaints from women in 2018-2019. However, only 19.5% were investigated. Due to all the concerns faced by women in Pakistan, the Global Gender Gap Index ranked Pakistan as the third-worst country in the world in terms of political empowerment, economic participation, education, health, and survival.

Growing abuse against women: Who is responsible?

In a country where women are estimated at 50% of the population, the growing incidence of rape, so-called honor killings, acid attacks, domestic violence, forced marriages, and rape is rampant in society. Women’s protection in Pakistan is a question mark for our justice institutions.

As, recent incidents have moved the debate away from ensuring women’s participation in all spheres of life and equality, and moving toward the fundamental principles of human security that include fear, freedom, freedom from exploitation, and all forms of sexual violence.

Laws on Violence against Women in Pakistan

In the near future, Pakistan has taken a number of concrete steps to protect and empower women. Under the Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Act, 2011, the Pakistan Penal Code and Code of Conduct were amended to punish perpetrators of heinous acid crimes, which can carry a fine as well as life imprisonment. The Anti-Women Protection Act, 2011 deals with customs and discriminatory practices for women who avoid forced marriages, marrying sinners with the Quran, and protecting their right to inheritance. In such cases, the punishment for such acts is between 3 and 7 years. And Rs 10 lakh is the amount of imprisonment and fine.

Criminal Law (Amendment) Rape Act 2016 covered founding aspects in dealing with the perpetrators and facilitators of this heinous crime. Life imprisonment was imposed for the rape of minors or persons with disabilities, provisions for legal aid for survivors of rape were added by the Provincial Bar Council, and up to 3 years imprisonment for poor investigation or fine or both. The Criminal Law (Amendment) Crimes in the name of honor Act, 2016 Conviction for honor killing is punishable by death or life imprisonment. Under the Electronic Crime Prevention Act, Any humiliation or breaches of confidentiality are punishable by up to seven years in prison or a fine of up to Rs. 5 million or both.

Who is responsible for non-implementation?

Now, the question arises as to whether it is the failure of the state, its inaction, or the society, that has created an atmosphere of gender oppression and violent violence against women in a country that holds several important international positions and guarantees women’s rights under it, failing to protect its constitution and best laws and measures.

Today, we are collectively terrified of the situation and events that have not led to the safety and security of women in Pakistan. Who is to blame for this flawed investigation and failure to implement the justice system? On the other hand, an illegal and deviant sexual portrayal of women in the media. This accusation may be partly due to our television series where the rapist or kidnapper is not punished, in some cases the victim is even married.

Violence against women: A way forward

Pakistan’s commitment to protecting the people is evident in its policies and actions. National and provincial legislation combined with administrative procedures are all the right steps, but much more is needed if we want to combat the menace of violent crimes. So, we have to strengthen our investigation sector and equipped them with advanced technology too. In addition to this, we have to make sure the rapid trial, swift, and certain punishment are in line with the severity of the crime.

This is the very first need of the time to identify repressive practices in our society and try to do it at the grassroots level. We should inculcate and educate our society about women’s rights and equality, and we should have to build a relation of consensus to foster a learning society. The educational curriculum should be introduced in educational intuitions to address issues related to bullying, bad touching, victimization, bad name-calling, and such attitudes. Instead of discussing slogans raised by a particular group, we need to focus on our society, especially the younger generation to Support socio-psychological learning. Collectively, we should encourage the adoption of traditions and practices that protect against violent crimes. In addition, law enforcement agencies at the federal and provincial levels need to restructure because there is a huge shortage of forensic labs and specialists in Pakistan.

It is pertinent to mention here that lack of justice and poor investigation of crime is also a major cause of the rising crime trend. Police reforms are a matter of urgency but on the contrary recruitment of unrelated persons contained in law enforcement agencies in Pakistan. Just as it is necessary to have a qualified doctor to diagnose a disease, likewise, it is also necessary to have a criminologist to determine if a crime has been committed or not, and bring the perpetrator to a logical conclusion. Because a criminologist is equipped with the latest knowledge to conduct a systematic investigation by using the causation of the crime and the scientific methodology. It is certain that these reforms will help in the prevention of crime.

Cybersecurity and Covid-19: A nightmare for Pakistan

Depression: Is it a Hereditary or Environmental disease?

Kashmir: A nuclear clash point between India and Pakistan

Time To Stop Gender-Based Violence is Now

Fortune of a Nation is nothing without Justice!

Noor Mukadam Murder Case: We must end Injustices against Women!

Stay tuned to Baaghi TV for more. Download our app for the latest news, updates & interesting content!

Leave a reply