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ISLAMABAD: During the peak of COVID-19 pandemic between January and December last year, Pakistan reported 2,297 cases of violence against women from 25 districts across the country, according to a report by the Aurat Foundation.
A report, ‘Violence against women and girls in the time of COVID 19 pandemic’ was released by the Aurat Foundation in collaboration with SAP-PK under the project Jazba- Democracy and Empowered Women or Jumhoriat Aur Baaikhtiar Aurat’.
The research is based on the review and analysis of data on the incidents of violence against women collected from selected newspapers verified by local police stations in 25 selected districts.
The data shows that at the peak of the pandemic in July, cases of violence against women were highest. However, the number of cases dropped again, but rose in September due to the resurgence of COVID-19.
As per findings, 57 percent were reported from Punjab, 27 percent from Sindh, 8 percent from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 6 percent from Gilgit Baltistan, and 2 percent from Balochistan.
Of all the provinces, Punjab reported the highest incidents of murder, rape, suicide, acid burning, kidnapping, domestic violence, child and forced marriage, dowry and inheritance.
Sindh had the most cases of honour killing. The victims of violence and survivors of violence ranged from two years to middle age and they belonged to all socio-economic backgrounds.