Why is violence against women increasing in Pakistan?

Pakistan has recently witnessed horrifying incidents in the month of July in which mostly women were subjected to assault; whether physical abuse, sexual assault or harassment, or being brutally murdered. 

Recent incidents have sparked outrage that women in Pakistan are not safe nor protected. Those who are opposing the concern of women’s safety are being asked only one question: ‘Have you ever seen a man being killed over honour killing in Pakistan?’

Violence against women and girls is something not new but by the passage of time, it is becoming more alarming. The concern is when will this gender-based violence end in Pakistan and why it is increasing?

Violence against women in Pakistan

According to 2019’s survey conducted by the Women, Peace and Security Index, Pakistan ranked 164 out of 167 countries.  In 2017 there were an estimated 746 honour crimes, 24 stove burnings, 18 cases of settlement marriages. Many cases go unreported, and many of these reported cases go unprosecuted.

What gender-based violence do women face in Pakistan?

Women in Pakistan mainly encounter violence by being forced into marriage, through workplace sexual harassment, domestic violence, and honour killings.  

Even minor girls are not safe in the country. After the brutal murder of Noor Mukadam, the girl who was shot and beheaded, it has been proven that gender-based violence does exist in society whether it is Noor, a girl from a privileged background, or Naseem Bibi, a helpless mother who was raped beside her 14-year-old month boy’s dead body; no single woman is safe in Pakistan.

Why is violence against women increasing in Pakistan?

Pakistan is a highly patriarchal society and the main problem of increasing violence against women is whenever a crucial killing or rape case is reported, whether it becomes subject to unimportant debate or becomes another meme.

Another reason is that the law system in Pakistan works in an unusual way as it takes a long time to enact laws for the protection of women.

The third and the very important root cause of increasing rape in Pakistan is blaming the victim. Remember how the country’s own Prime Minister blamed victims of rape for wearing very few clothes’? Untill such statements will not end, the real root cause will not be identified, proper domestic laws will not be passed, the country will keep losing women like Noor, or the mother of four Qurat-ul-Ain, who was tortured and killed by her own husband.  

How violence against women can be controlled?

Earlier this month, a bill aiming to protect women, children from domestic violence was being opposed to getting passed in the country. If such laws, policies, and strategies are implemented immediately, women can be prevented from becoming victims of countless terrible incidents.

Educating on violence against women can help in easing cases and by speaking out against all forms of violence and respect a person’s-even a child’s- right to say no can solve many problems.