Despite the formulation of several women protection laws and policies during the decade, Pakistan has been registering an alarming increase in violence against women. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and other survey reports present the increasing number of GBV cases in Pakistan. This conveys a negative picture of the human rights situation in Pakistan to the international community.

The murder recently of a 25-year-old woman, who was stoned to death by her own family members in front of the Lahore High Court, is an example of increasing intensity of such cases. Although the police investigation is in progress, no headway so far has been made in the case. The UN Commission for Human Rights has also condemned the incident; however the provincial assembly has something more important to have battles on it during the session.

To save the potential enhancement in economic growth of the country, the government has to take proactive initiatives to control violations of human rights with special reference to women empowerment and gender-based violence considering the 27 international conventions which the government has signed with the EU under GSP plus scheme.

Farhat Fatima

Senior Research Associate Pakistan Institute of Labour Education & Research Karachi

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2014