ISLAMABAD: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Tuesday organised a meeting on justice for women and gender minorities.

According to a statement, the local administration, policymakers, legal experts, legislators, civil society representatives and journalists attended the meeting.

They discussed the existing laws for women’ protection and expressed concerns over the low convection rates in cases of rape, abduction, domestic violence and harmful customary practices.

Difficulties faced by the police in convicting offenders, lawyers’ perspective, violence against transgenders and the law and political parties view on women rights legislations were also discussed.

It may be noted that crimes against women in Pakistan are frequently reported in the media, but the conviction rates for these offenses remain alarmingly low.

The gap between reported crimes and low conviction rates highlights serious weaknesses in the legal system. Weak investigations, social stigma, and delays in court cases create major barriers to justice. This lack of accountability allows violence to continue, making it difficult for survivors to seek justice and protection.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2025