Publish d on End Pov rt in South Asi

(/ ndpov rt insouth si )

Addr ssin viol nc inst wom n in

P kist n: tim to ct now
UZMA QURESH (/TEAM/UZMA-QURESH) & TANYA D'LIMA (/TEAM/TANYA-DLIMA) | DECEMBER 10, 2017
This page in: English (/endpovertyinsouthasia/addressing-violence-against-women-pakistan-time-act-now)

   

The time is right to act on this issue in Pakistan. If we do not address violence against women and girls, sustainable
growth will remain elusive.

Almost one in three married Pakistani women report facing physical violence from
their husbands. The informal estimates are much higher. Such violence is not only
widespread, it is also normalized. According to Bureau of Statistics, more than half of
the women respondents in one province believe that it is ok for a husband to beat
his wife under certain circumstances; and these attitudes are not much di erent in
the rest of the country.
 
This violence also has serious implications on economic growth. Only 22% of women
are formally reported to participate in the Pakistani workforce. Yet working is often
not a choice and comes with risks.

This means some women face the risk of being sexually harassed, and assaulted by
men outside their home if they choose to work. However, studies indicate that some
women may also face violence within their households because of perceived
dishonor and a threat to masculinity when they work outside the home. Intimate
partner violence is expensive, in terms of medical cost, and missed days of work.
However, what is harder to cost for is the psychological trauma due to violence that
prevents women from achieving their full potential.
In the late 70s and 80’s, Pakistan witnessed a regression of women’s rights and laws
were amended to re ect this discrimination. However, in the last 10-15 years, there
has been some success in passing policies and laws to prevent practices such as
early age marriages, so called honor killings, sexual harassment, domestic violence
and rape. Notably, many of these laws (https://www.dawn.com/news/1320585) have
been introduced by women parliamentarians in Pakistan. This is a clear a rmation
that the political participation of women is crucial to this issue.

While these gains are heartening, implementation challenges are still enormous.
Recognizing this, the provincial government in Punjab has established the rst
center addressing violence against women in Multan district using an integrated
approach. (https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/195270-Pakistans- rst-Violence-
Against-Women-Center-inaugurated-in-Multan) At the center, women can register a
rst information report(FIR) on violence (the crucial initial step to addressing
violence through the justice system). Survivors of violence can also receive economic
and social rehabilitation. There are women desks at almost every police station and
the province is in the process of strengthening women’s shelters and crisis centers.
There are also plans to provide transitional housing facilities to women. On the
prevention side, the government has established an anonymous hotline for
complaints and counseling around violence. The province of Punjab has a
smartphone application where women can report harassment. Data (including the
FIRs) is being computerized and collected regularly. Secondary textbooks will include
a chapter on violence against women and girls to sensitize young boys and girls on
the issue. Furthermore, women’s adequate representation in the Police, Judiciary
and District Administration and their capacity enhancement is equally important to
e ectively address this issue.

Attitudes around violence are one of those ‘sticky’ norms issues. They cannot always
be addressed at the policy level. In a country like Pakistan, the role of mass media
can be transformational. A long-standing community of researchers and activists
have been working on eliminating violence in e ective ways for decades. But there
are also newer, youth-led movements that show promise. One example is Girls At
Dhabhas (http://nation.com.pk/15-Nov-2015/plan-to-overthrow-dhaba-patriarchy)- a
popular social media movement led by young, urban Pakistani women. The
campaign started simply enough-young women went to male-dominated ‘dhabhas’
or roadside eateries and tea stalls. They posted a picture of themselves in these
spaces a rming their right to partake in the public space equal to men. Engaging
youth becomes critical considering Pakistan’s demographic pro le. I recently met
several young women and men from public sector universities who simply dismissed
the notion of con ning women and men within rigid gender norms. They wanted
women to engage equally in economy and men to share care responsibilities. This
also points to the commitment that the government, private sector and
development partners need to make to human capital development and community
mobilization for shifting patriarchal norms and having an egalitarian and a violence
free society.

The time is right to act on this issue in Pakistan. If we do not address violence
against women and girls, sustainable growth will remain elusive.

GENDER (/SEARCH?F[0]=TOPIC:295&F[1]=LANGUAGE:EN), GOVERNANCE (/SEARCH?F[0]=TOPIC:296&F[1]=LANGUAGE:EN),

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (/SEARCH?F[0]=TOPIC:304&F[1]=LANGUAGE:EN), URBAN DEVELOPMENT (/SEARCH?
F[0]=TOPIC:308&F[1]=LANGUAGE:EN)
PAKISTAN (/SEARCH?F[0]=COUNTRIES:196&F[1]=LANGUAGE:EN)
SOUTH ASIA (/SEARCH?F[0]=REGIONS:279&F[1]=LANGUAGE:EN)

Authors
(/team/uzma-quresh)
U m Qur sh (/t m/u m -qur sh)
Social Development Specialist (Gender)

MORE BLOGS BY UZMA (/TEAM/UZMA-QURESH)

(/team/tanya-dlima)
T n D'Lim (/t m/t n -dlim )
Tanya D'Lima

MORE BLOGS BY TANYA (/TEAM/TANYA-DLIMA)

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Anonymous
DECEMBER 11, 2017

Well written blog. However, if we really consider our environment it is very di cult for a
woman to raise voice against domestic violence even i have spectated lot of educated family
even practicing this just to show men's power but the fact is that women doesn’t found any
place if they go against it. Ultimately, truth is that they have to live with same family for
years and years and even for whole life. The police station we are talking about absurd. They
even do not pay attention to murder, how come the y will pay attention to this.? Establishing
crisis center is good thing, but the area we really need to work on is education for boys and
girls. Awareness will automatically resolve problems. Telling people that what your rights are
there is good but nding the solution which is really impacting their live is the better
approach.
REPLY (/COMMENT/REPLY/NODE/25427/FIELD_COMMENTS/36145)

Mehvish
DECEMBER 11, 2017

Well written blog. However, if we really consider our environment it is very di cult for a
woman to raise voice against domestic violence even i have spectated lot of educated family
even practicing this just to show men's power but the fact is that women doesn’t found any
place if they go against it. Ultimately, truth is that they have to live with same family for
years and years and even for whole life. The police station we are talking about absurd. They
even do not pay attention to murder, how come the y will pay attention to this.? Establishing
crisis center is good thing, but the area we really need to work on is education for boys and
girls. Awareness will automatically resolve problems. Telling people that what your rights are
there is good but nding the solution which is really impacting their live is the better
approach.
REPLY (/COMMENT/REPLY/NODE/25427/FIELD_COMMENTS/36146)
 Anonymous
DECEMBER 11, 2017

very nice and informative article. It is very true that the time is right provided the
governments provide nancial and political support as well. on the public side, i really like
the movement by the young people trying to create more public sphere for women and
challenging social norms/expectations.
REPLY (/COMMENT/REPLY/NODE/25427/FIELD_COMMENTS/36147)

Rahim khan
JANUARY 18, 2018

Do you really think that police is best choice for womens, in such a country where police is
crupt; and nevere provides justice to poors?
REPLY (/COMMENT/REPLY/NODE/25427/FIELD_COMMENTS/36176)

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