ISLAMABAD: Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in the world today and remains largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it.

To raise voice against this violence, ‘International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is being observed on Sunday.

This year’s theme is ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence’ - to be culminated on Dec 10, the Human Rights Day - aimed at supporting women and girls around the world who are coming together in a movement of solidarity against the historic power imbalances in which sexual harassment and other forms of violence are so deeply rooted. The slogan is: “HearMeToo”.

The theme calls to honour these voices to listen to and believe survivors, to end the culture of silencing and impunity, and to put survivors at the centre of the conversation and response.

It aims to broaden the global conversation and highlight the voices and activism of all survivors of violence and advocates around the world - many of whom are often missing from the media headlines and social media discussions.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says one in three women around the world experience physical or sexual violence, mostly by an intimate partner. This makes it the most widespread but among the least reported human rights abuses. It is prevalent during times of peace and stability, but risks escalate when a crisis strikes.

Furthermore, research indicates that the cost of violence against women could amount annually to around 2pc of global gross domestic product (GDP). This is equivalent to $1.5 trillion.

“Not until the half of our population represented by women and girls can live free from fear, violence and everyday insecurity, can we truly say we live in a fair and equal world,” says UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in his message.

WHO has published new clinical guidelines and tools to support countries and train healthcare providers to provide appropriate women-centred care.

In Pakistan, health worker trainings have been undertaken in three provinces.

Pakistan has several laws and policies against various forms of violence. But the challenges remain in implementing these measures, says a report of the UN Women on country profile 2018-22 for Pakistan.

Many women still lack access to free or affordable essential services in sectors such as health, police, justice and social support to ensure their safety, protection and recovery. Not enough is done to prevent violence, which is the most challenging but also effective way to eliminate violence in a sustainable way.

Pakistan is signatory to a number of internationally agreed norms and standards relating to ending violence against women and girls. Among the most prominent are: the 1979 Cedaw Convention, the 1993 Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women which became the first international instrument explicitly addressing violence against women, providing a framework for national and international action, the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action and the 2013 Commission on the Status of Women adopted agreed conclusions to eliminate and prevent all forms of violence against women and girls.

Local studies show that women’s movement and their use of public transport is compromised due to the discomfort, social stigma and fear of harassment when they are compelled to sit in close contact with unrelated men.

In making public transportation facilities accessible, ‘safe’ and ‘harassment-free’ for women and girls, an internationally recognised ‘safety audit tool’ was introduced for the first time and piloted in Lahore as part of a ‘safe cities’ initiative.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2018