Violence against women: A challenge to justice & human dignity

GENDER-based violence (GBV) remains one of the gravest human rights challenges facing societies across the world. It affects women regardless of nationality, religion, education or economic status. Although governments have enacted laws to combat domestic violence, sexual assault and honour crimes, millions of women continue to suffer abuse. Pakistan, despite significant legislative reforms, continues to face an alarming incidence of violence against women. A small but influential segment of society attempts to justify such violence in the name of culture, tribal customs or family honour. In reality, these practices are not cultural values but instruments of prejudice and discrimination used to subordinate women. They have no place in a society founded upon justice, equality and human dignity. The situation in Pakistan: The latest Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS 2017–18), conducted by the National Institute of Population Studies (NIPS), paints a disturbing picture. Among ever-married women aged 15–49 years, 34 percent reported experiencing physical, emotional or sexual violence by their husbands. Nearly 23 percent had suffered physical violence, including slapping, pushing, punching, kicking or beating, with slapping being the most commonly reported form of abuse. The survey also found that violence is more common in rural areas and among women with lower levels of education and economic independence. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), approximately 18 percent of women aged 20–24 were married before the age of 18, making them more vulnerable to abuse. Since many victims remain silent due to fear, family pressure and concerns about honour, the actual prevalence of violence is likely to be much higher. Honour killings: A premeditated crime: One of the most brutal forms of gender-based violence is honour killing. It is an internationally recognised human rights violation involving the deliberate murder of a family member, usually a wo