VAW continues

The brutal murder of a 15-year-old girl in Quetta by her own father is just another paragraph in the never-ending chapter of violence against women in Pakistan. The suspect had recently returned from the US after living there for 25 years, yet insisted on a rigid, regressive code upon his daughter – one that ultimately led to her death. His confession that he killed her over her TikTok videos speaks to a deeply ingrained patriarchal mindset that sees women as property rather than individuals with rights. The crime, initially covered up as an attack by unidentified gunmen, is being investigated as an ‘honour killing’ – a grotesque term that has long been used to justify the cold-blooded murder of women who dare to exercise autonomy over their lives. Despite decades of legislation, activism and awareness campaigns, Pakistan continues to foster an environment where such crimes are not only possible but disturbingly common.

The statistics paint a grim picture. Human rights organisations estimate that hundreds of women are murdered each year in Pakistan in domestic violence, ‘honour’-based crimes, and crimes perpetrated by family members – often by fathers, brothers, or husbands and appallingly even mothers. Despite legal reforms, justice remains elusive due to loopholes, social stigma and lack of enforcement. In many cases, perpetrators are forgiven by the victim’s family or receive minimal punishment. The legal framework alone is insufficient. A cultural shift is imperative in how Pakistani society perceives women’s rights and autonomy. Women should not have to live in fear of their own families. The right to self-expression – whether through clothing, social media or personal choices – should not be a death sentence. The idea that men have the right to dictate a woman’s behaviour and punish her for noncompliance must be dismantled.

The larger picture is even more harrowing. Globally, an estimated 25 per cent of adolescent girls experience abuse by their partners, making gender-based violence one of the most prevalent human rights violations. Data from 2023 shows the urgency of this crisis, though even these figures likely underestimate the true scale of the problem due to underreporting caused by legal, social or cultural constraints. Shockingly, governments worldwide allocate a mere 5.0 per cent of aid to tackling violence against women and girls, with only 0.2 per cent directed towards prevention. The legal protections for women remain inadequate. An alarming 86 per cent of women and girls live in countries without robust legal protections against violence. In Pakistan, despite increased legal recognition of gender-based violence, implementation remains abysmally poor. The country is grappling with an 81 per cent rise in the backlog of unresolved GBV cases, according to a report by the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan. While more cases are being reported, prosecution and conviction remain rare. The conviction rate for such cases is a mere 5.0 per cent, while acquittals stand at a staggering 64 per cent. If Pakistan is serious about eradicating gender-based violence, it must ensure that perpetrators are held accountable. A 15-year-old girl lost her life because her father disapproved of her social media presence. This cannot be allowed to continue.