ENTRENCHED misogynistic and patriarchal beliefs have normalised violence against women in society; harassment, rape, honour killings, domestic abuse, IPV, and acid attacks make regular headlines but fail to arouse any public outrage. However, some lawmakers made the right noises recently. Last week, a parliamentary body expressed concern about 10,201 cases of domestic violence against women in Punjab in 2023 and demanded a restructured national database on crimes against women and children under the human rights ministry. The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights also scanned the escalating figures of the aforesaid menace. According to documents provided by the KP police, the conviction rate was a pathetic two to five per cent. This underscores the dearth of political will to fight the ‘silent pandemic’ and shows that the absence of a modernised, sensitised and digitised criminal justice system is lethal for vulnerable citizens.

Pro-women legislation alone cannot save women. Last year, the UNFPA indicated that 32pc of women in Pakistan experienced physical violence and 40pc of married women endured spousal abuse. But statistics are likely to be higher, as scores of women are either unable to access justice due to societal and structural impediments or are forced to stay silent by their kin. Besides, the curse of child marriage has worsened the situation: 21pc of underage girls in Pakistan were given in marriage due to abject poverty, lack of education and rigid social mores. Domestic abuse is not a private dispute to be settled within the home, but a criminal offence. Therefore, law-enforcement must be held accountable for its inability to prevent and penalise offences against women. The state has to view all forms of violence against women as one of the most brutal means of patriarchal control, for laws to be implemented along with robust investigation and prosecution. In addition, institutions such as women police stations and women-centric crisis centres are mandatory to wipe out gender injustice.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2024