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There have been no respite to the incidents of sexual harassment and violence against women in Pakistan. The recent incidents show that public spaces remain unsafe for women as they regularly endure acts of insolence and indecency by predatory men.
Two recent incidents in Karachi and Islamabad have surfaced which show men performing lewd acts in public in front of the women. The act was caught on camera and sparked outrage, prompting authorities to investigate the matter. Another incident occurred in Islamabad when a man flashed himself in public before a woman. The incident occurred in F-9 Park, the city’s largest, which has already been in the headlines a few months ago after a woman was sexually assaulted there.
Women face harsh and dominating attitudes from men not only at home but also in public. Every day, walking on the streets or taking a bus ride is an emotionally draining experience for women. In fact, every woman who steps in public places has witnessed or experienced daily occurrences of being victimized by men. If these instances are reported to family or friends, women are hushed or victim blamed. The situation is so alarming that women are not even allowed to travel alone in public without a male escort to avoid any harrowing experiences.
Many women who are victims of sexual assault and gender-based violence are from lower and middle-class backgrounds. Although they do have recourse to legal action, the incidents are often ignored or dragged for years in courts. This is why the victims of the two recent incidents have not filed a complaint.
In the media, reports of violence against women and children are common, but they are often disregarded along with matters of public unrest. The fault lies within the criminal justice system where the conviction rate remains abysmal. The justice system must evolve and efforts must be done to hire female police officers or those sympathetic with women’s complaints.
It is a traumatic experience for women who suffer in silence and must not be blamed for the trauma they undergo. The social order must change if we want to move forward by emphasizing that harassment and any form of violence is unacceptable. We need to take drastic steps to ensure that women are safe in their homes and public places.
