Govt urged to devise mechanism for protection of women rights

LAHORE: Government has been urged to take a firm and concrete action to protect the human rights of girls and women in Pakistan, strengthen laws against violence, targeting women and establish protection mechanism for their safety. There should be zero tolerance on any violence or discrimination against women.

The speakers expressed these views while addressing a protest demonstration organised in connection with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in front of Lahore Press Club on Monday.

A large number of women, young girls and civil society activists participated in the demonstration organised by Women in Struggle for Empowerment (WISE). A 16-day Activism Campaign was also started on this occasion.

The participants were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against gender-based violence, such as domestic violence, honour-based violence, sexual violence and harassment, forced and child marriage, trafficking and exploitation.

The speakers said that violence against women is most rampant in Pakistan. There is alarming rise in cases of violence against women and girls specially in Punjab, where 197,017 cases of violence against women were registered by Punjab Safe City Authority (PSCA) through their Virtual Police Stations during the last five months of current year.

“Both the society and state should denounce such behaviours; including rape, abduction, honour killings, forced child marriage, and the continued denial of any human rights and equality to girls and women,” they said.

Speaking on the occasion, WISE Executive Director Ms Bushra expressed deep concern over the escalating incidences of violence against women. She said violence against women in Pakistan is both a crime and a socially accepted norm. While we have laws that protect women from violence. This means that women have an inherently paradoxical relationship with the state: with one hand the state gives women rights in the form of constitutional guarantees and some progressive laws while on the other hand, it takes away these rights by refusing to implement these laws.

Quoting data of PSCA, she told that 197,017 cases of violence against women were registered during the last five months. It is shameful for us to see our country ranking 145th among 146 states in the Global Gender Gap index 2024. Women cannot tolerate the continued denial of human rights and equality to girls and women, she added.

She said it is urgently needed to effectively implement Domestic Violence Act 2016 and Anti-Rape Law, end child marriages, establishing Standing Harassment Committees at the workplaces, educational institutions and campuses.