THE recent report of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) presents a bleak picture of the human rights situation, pointing out that 5,660 crimes were reported against women and religious minorities in the four provinces in the first 10 months of 2017. Although the figure shared by the human rights watchdog is not a small one, it is understood that most such cases also go unreported for various reasons.

There are laws that provide protection to citizens from both internal threats and external aggression. The question is: why is violence against women increasing despite the strict legislation? What legal and political steps should be taken by the state to protect citizens irrespective of gender and religious differences?

Besides the implementation of existing laws, there is a dire need for formulating an education policy that professes a collective approach and the idea of peaceful co-existence. This change in the education system, with the aid of media propagation, would definitely help the state change societal realities.

Baba Faiz

Ball Nigwar, Balochistan

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2018