by admin | Dec 3, 2022 | Uncategorized
Punjab
The following statistics represent the number of VAW cases in Punjab in 2015, which go as:
- Cases of rape were 2,720
- Cases of honor killings were 173
- Cases of acid throwing are 22
- Burning cases are 35
- Cases of beating were 588
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:
The following statistics represent the number of VAW Cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in 2015, which go as:
- Cases of gang-rape and rape are 32 & cases involving attempted rape are 20
- Cases of honor-killing are 987
- Cases of violence as according to cities of KPK are, incidents of violence in Peshawar are 104, in Mardan 35, in Kohat 14 and in Mansehra 11.
Sindh
The following statistics represent the number of VAW Cases in Sindh, which go as for last three years as:
- Cases of gang-rape and rape are 344
- Cases of honor-killings are 860
- Incidents of acid-burning are 90
- Burning cases 72
- Cases of violence against women are 535 with specified cases of domestic violence being 481
Balochistan
The following Statistics represent the number of VAW Cases in Balochistan in 2015, which go as:
- Cases of gang rape, rape, harassment, sodomy, stripping are 939
- Burning (acid attacks, set on fire) cases are 143
- Domestic Violence (acid attack, amputation, beating, edged tool attack, murder bids, set on fire, shaving, shot etc.) are 279
PDHS Survey
According to PDHS 2017-18, one of every five women in Pakistan are subjected to physical violence, a third of all married women go through it, as well. Following are some key findings of PDHS Survey
- 28% of women age 15-49 have experienced Physical Violence since age 15.
- 6% of women age 15-49 have experienced Sexual Violence since age 15.
- 7% of women have experienced violence during pregnancy.
- 8% of ever-married women report that their husbands display three or more specific types of controlling behaviours.
- 34% of ever-married women have experienced spousal physical, sexual, or emotional violence.
- The most common type of spousal violence is emotional violence (26%), followed by physical violence (23%).
- 5% of women have experienced spousal sexual violence.
- 26% of ever-married women have sustained injuries. Cuts and bruises are the most common types of injuries reported.
- 56% of affected women never sought any help or talked with anyone about resisting or stopping the violence.
Pakistan has been enlisted among the worst performers ranking Pakistan 151 out of 153 countries (Global Gender Gap Index Report 2020 by World Economic Forum). Pakistan was at 112th number in 2006. The report focuses on four areas: educational attainment (Pakistan’s ranking is 143rd); health and survival (149th); and political empowerment (93rd); economic participation and opportunity (150th).
by admin | Dec 3, 2022 | Uncategorized
Domestic abuse falls into a common pattern or cycle of violence:
Cycle of Violence/Abuse against Women
Domestic abuse falls into a common pattern, or cycle of violence:
Abuse – Your abusive partner lashes out with aggressive, belittling, or violent behaviour. Abuse is a power play designed to show you who the boss is.
Guilt – After abusing you, your partner feels guilt, but not over what he has done. He’s more worried about the possibility of being caught and facing consequences for his abusive behaviour.
Excuses – Your abuser rationalizes what he has done. The person may come up with a string of excuses or blame you for the abusive behaviour – anything to avoid taking responsibility.
“Normal” behaviour – The abuser does everything he can to regain control and keep the victim in the relationship. He may act as if nothing had happened, or he may turn on the charm. This peaceful honeymoon phase may give the victim hope that the abuser has really changed this time.
Fantasy and planning – Your abuser begins to fantasize about abusing you again. He spends a lot of time thinking about what you’ve done wrong and how he’ll make you pay. Then he makes a plan for turning the fantasy of abuse into reality.
Set-up – Your abuser sets you up and puts his plan in motion, creating a situation where he can justify abusing you.
Your abuser’s apologies and loving gestures between episodes of abuse can make it difficult to leave. He may make you believe that you are the only person who can help him, that things will be different this time, and that he truly loves you. However, the dangers of staying are very real.
by admin | Dec 3, 2022 | Uncategorized
White Ribbon Pakistan is a men’s movement for ending violence against women and girls. We are working with a different approach to counter the issue of violence by addressing the patriarchal mindset of individuals and society. We believe that men’s involvement in our initiative is a prerequisite to combating violence against women. Justice can be provided by those who do injustice because they have the power to do both. It is not sufficient to create awareness about women’s rights among women only but it is also necessary to engage men to challenge the unfair power relations that promote gender-based violence. Men even in instances where they are not a part of the problem can bring forth the solution by persuading others to question and stop violence against women in every form
Both men and women from all walks of life, who are willing to end gender based violence in Pakistan through changing the culture that lead to violence against women, can join the “White Ribbon Ambassador and champion Programme”.
People from different background, skills and knowledge are encouraged to be ambassador to strengthen communities and creating lasting positive change.
We will give you training about carrying out the role.
Provide you access to a variety of online materials and resources.
We will keep you up to date with White Ribbon news and developments.
Invite you to the White Ribbon events and activities.
We will listen to your suggestions and feedback.
We will award you with a certificate of ambassador.
- Use White Ribbon Pin, logo and resources that are provided as directed.
- Raising awareness, lead and advocate to end all kinds of violence against women.
- Speaking out against all forms of violence against women, as well as being involved in activities that promote women’s safety and wellbeing.
- Engaging and supporting men to involve in the movement through promoting (online/offline) and participating in the activities that can bring a change in society.
- Campaigning at the local and national level to promote that women’s safety is a men’s issue too.
- To promote the White Ribbon through engaging and educating your peers and challenge sexism in everyday life.
- Speak about ending violence against women at community events, TV programs, social media and where possible.
- Act as a positive role model for other men and boys by actively engaging in positive behaviour and actions towards women.
- Use White Ribbon presentation and material as well as follow guidelines for other events.
- Encourage people especially men to take the White Ribbon Pledge. To keep in touch with White Ribbon and offer feedback, suggestions and advice.
White Ribbon Ambassadors will be selected for a period of one year. Every year, we will renew your ambassadorship and provide you with another certificate.
If you no longer wish to be an Ambassador or if you need to take a break from your role you will have to inform White Ribbon by submitting a formal request
Minimum Specific Deliverables
- You will talk about violence against women on social media at least once a month tagging White Ribbon in your posts.
- As an ambassador or champions of White Ribbon, you will talk about gender-based violence at any event at least once a quarter.
- You will wear White Ribbon Pin during media and public appearances.
- The Ambassadors and Champions will be required to connect with us once a month to plan and discuss the activities and give feedback.
- You will persuade the maximum people especially men to take the White Ribbon Pledge.
If you are interested in becoming a White Ribbon Ambassador or champion, the first step is to pledge “never to commit, excuse & remain silent about violence against women”.
- You will always adhere to the White Ribbon Values and will make sure people know that you are a volunteer, not an expert.
- You will never share any confidential or sensitive information that is disclosed to you in your role as an Ambassador.
- You will not accept gifts, money or any item of value from anyone in connection with your role as an Ambassador.
- You will avoid any act in any way that could bring White Ribbon into disrepute.
- By agreeing to the code of conduct you will be making the declaration “that nothing in my past or current personal life would damage the credibility of White Ribbon Pakistan”.
Register with us by filling up a form
Take White Ribbon Pledge and agree to our code of conduct
Certificate Award Ceremony and the announcement in the media (traditional and social media)
If you are interested in becoming a White Ribbon Ambassador, please contact us.
Email: info@whiteribbon.org.pk
Mobile: 03354887775
Phone: 042 35883570-2
Office Address: 2/12 M-Block, Gulberg III, Lahore.
Or fill out our form so that we can get back to you:
by admin | Nov 28, 2022 | Uncategorized
“Toxic masculinity” (sometimes called “harmful masculinity”) is often used as a catch-all term for the behaviours of men and masculine folks.
In reality, though, there’s plenty of room for someone to be masculine without being toxic or engaging in behaviour that’s dangerous or hurtful.
So what does the phrase actually mean? The popular term points to the very real problems of male violence and sexism.
If you think about the common narrative around men and boys that teaches them that boys don’t cry or that they should be able to walk it off, take it like a man under any circumstance, you could imagine how the habitual practice of not telling about your pain or worries could have significant implications.
There are downstream consequences of lacking a healthy outlet to dispense negative emotions. When you’re bottled up all the time, it’s like Whac-a-Mole. It will reappear in another way.
Common Traits of Toxic Masculinity
Traits of toxic masculinity include themes of:
- Mental and physical toughness
- Aggression
- Stoicism, or not displaying emotion
- Self-sufficiency
- Emotional insensitivity
Societal impact
While toxic masculinity definitely has effects on individuals, it can also have larger societal impacts.
Here are just a few of these impacts. Keep in mind that, while toxic masculinity plays a contributing role in these issues, it isn’t always the sole cause.
Rape culture
Toxic masculinity ideology tends to treat women as sexual objects, contributing to ongoing issues, like rape culture.
This refers to the tendency to remove blame from sexual assaulters and place it on the victim. “Boys will be boys” might sound harmless when it comes to kids roughhousing on the playground. But it can be used as an excuse for violent behavior or not respecting boundaries.
Violence
Toxic masculinity also teaches men and masculine folks that aggression and violence are key to solving problems — unless you want to appear weak.
The resulting violence, which can show up in many forms, including intimate partner violence, can have far-reaching effects on those who aren’t even directly involved.
Social exclusion
Again, there are plenty of men who do not exhibit toxic masculinity. Still, these individuals may be negatively affected by those who display those traits in the form of social exclusion. Especially among children and teens, those who don’t fit inside that predetermined box of what it means to be masculine might find themselves disliked because of it.
Addressing it
There’s no single answer to addressing the problem of toxic masculinity. Doing so requires societal shifts around several things, including gender stereotypes and the stigma surrounding mental health.
But, if you’re a man, there are a few things you can do to reduce the impact of toxic masculinity in both your own life and the lives of those around you:
- Be okay with acknowledging where you are. Everyone has a starting point. There’s no way to change or move forward if you aren’t able to be honest about the things you want to change. Maybe you weren’t a skilled communicator in past relationships. Or maybe you’ve relied on your physical size or strength to intimidate others. Don’t beat yourself up for your past actions. Put your attention on where you currently stand and how you can move forward.
- Have tough conversations. Ask your friends their perspective on how you handle tough situations or your biases in relation to masculinity. Do your part not to get defensive, and really listen to how your actions have impacted others. You might be surprised that certain things you did or said came across differently from how you intended.
- Do the work. Above all, undoing toxic masculinity as a man involves being true to yourself, not some false idea of the person you should be. Finding your true self is a process that takes time. A therapist can guide you through this process and help you alter unhelpful thinking patterns.
by admin | Nov 25, 2022 | Uncategorized
For the first time in Pakistan, White Ribbon, which is part of global men’s movement present in over 50 countries for ending violence against women and girls, has announced the launch of White Ribbon Workplace Gender Inclusion Awards for corporate sector in Pakistan.
Talking to the media Founder and President of White Ribbon Mr. Omer Aftab said that these awards will be presented annually to companies which use their position to advocate for gender equality and take steps to advance women’s empowerment. These awards are being launched on November 25, the White Ribbon Day for the Eradication of Violence against Women.
Mr. Aftab further added that White Ribbon Awards will be presented annually to the companies which advocate for gender equality and take steps to advance women’s empowerment at workplace. The awards will celebrate and acknowledge the best practices and policies of corporates that take part and highlight gender justice and gender inclusion for their workforce, customers, community and through their CSR and brand communication and advertisements.
All organisations that work on gender equality and have shown a positive impact regarding women empowerment at workplace are eligible to apply for these awards. There are three categories of White Ribbon Awards: Gender Inclusive Workplace, Gender Responsive Marketplace and Community Engagement and Partnerships. For all categories, survey forms will have to be submitted online. Finalists will be selected based on independent ranking system. ##
Editor’s note:
Violence against women is a shameful reality across the world. Mostly it is committed by men. It is rooted in gender inequalities, and it still far too often goes unnoticed and unchallenged. The White Ribbon Campaign exists to change this.
Men and boys wearing the White Ribbon declare that they will never commit, excuse, or remain silent about men’s violence against women. White Ribbon is one of the world’s largest male-led campaigns to end men’s violence against women. It started in 1991 in Canada, and is now active in over 50countries across the globe. Every year it is growing stronger as more men and boys realise that women’s and girls’ safety is their issue too.
by admin | Nov 15, 2022 | Uncategorized
Domestic abuse frequently follows a cycle. The first step towards ending the cycle of violence is to comprehend it (and the elements that contribute to it). Domestic abuse typically follows a pattern or cycle of violence:
The White Ribbon Campaign aims to end the vicious cycle of domestic violence in which abusive people engage in aggressive, disrespectful, or violent behavior. This sets off a vicious cycle of abuse. Abuse is a technique to show dominance over you and let you know “who is boss.” He exhibits guilt after abusing because he fears getting caught and suffering the consequences of his abusive behaviour. The abuser will next attempt to justify his actions by making a variety of justifications or blaming the victim for his actions, all to escape responsibility. Domestic abuse frequently follows a cycle. The abuser then makes every effort to retake control and maintain the relationship with the victim. He can put on a fake smile or pretend to be happy. The victim could feel hopeful during this calm honeymoon period that the abuser has changed this time. The abuser then starts to dream about abusing the victim once more and looks for an opportunity to make his desire come true. You may be set up by him and he may be able to carry out his plan, which will allow him to abuse you without fear of retribution. It might be challenging to leave, report, or receive any kind of aid when the abuser makes sincere excuses and kind gestures in between periods of violence. He might try to convince you that you are the only one who can help him, that this time will be different, and that he does love you. The abuser may employ tricks to prevent you from seeking help and leaving them. If you think your abusive partner will start acting differently or that you can assist him to deal with his emotional and psychological issues, you are probably mistaken. Violence will continue. Only once your abuser stops blaming you, his miserable background, stress at work, his drinking, and other factors for his actions and seeks professional treatment will he be able to change.
Keep in mind that violence is a purposeful and well-thought-out action. Abusers choose who they attack; they don’t insult, threaten, or physically harm everyone who upsets them. When and where they abuse is carefully considered; abusers maintain control until no one else is present to witness their abusive behavior.
by admin | Oct 25, 2022 | Uncategorized
Like other parts of the globe, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is being marked here on Saturday (today) with a resolve to continue efforts for putting an end to violence against women. The day is marked every year on November 25, to show support and solidarity with women suffering various kinds of violence. To mark the day, different events including walks, seminars have been planned to raise awareness against violence against women.
The White Ribbon Campaign is launching “16 Days of Activism” campaign against violence against women on Saturday. A spokesperson of the NGO told Business Recorder that one in every five women experienced gender-based violence in Pakistan, which contributes to Pakistan’s low ranking in the global gender gap index.
She called for behavioural changes among men, and said that men must take greater responsibility to become part of the solution. She said, “There are 15 or 16 laws addressing violence against women and children, we people still need to be made aware of these laws. Victims and law enforcement agencies need to be made aware that laws have been promulgated for their protection.”
According to Asian Development Bank report, a staggering 85 percent of women in Pakistan have experienced some form of violence at some point in their lives. Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his message said the role of the women in the process of national development is praiseworthy and the importance of their role in the development of Pakistan cannot be denied.
“Dream of prosperity can be materialized by first empowering the women,” he said, adding: “Any injustice meted out with the women is equivalent to cruelty.” He said that provision of resources for empowering the women is a beneficial investment for the constitution of an enlightened society. Giving details about different steps taken by the Punjab government for the welfare of the womenfolk, he said that effective legislation has been made to protect their rights as well as to eliminate the menace of torture in the society.Copyright Business Recorder, 2017
by admin | Oct 25, 2022 | Uncategorized
ISLAMABAD: A nationwide men’s movement for ending violence against women was launched on Friday to mark 16 days of activism.
Thousands of men and boys from over 70 districts across the country will be mobilised by the White Ribbon Pakistan in collaboration with UN Women Pakistan, the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) and the Ministry of Human Rights.
According to the White Ribbon, men from all provinces and regions gathered outside local press clubs to vow to “leave no woman or girl behind” by prioritising their dignity and calling for their protection against violence. The launching ceremony of the campaign was held in Serena Hotel Islamabad.
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is marked on Nov 25 every year. The day also marks the start of the ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence’ lasting until Dec 10, the Human Rights Day.
Speaking on the occasion, Senator Farhatullah Babar said intolerance and violence was increasing day by day in Pakistan.
“Lack of access to justice, broken criminal justice system, jirgas that exclude and degrade women and misapplication of Qisas laws have further compounded violence against women,” he said.
He said pardon can be granted under the Qisas law but only after conviction and it was a misinterpretation of the law by accepting pardons even before conviction.
He suggested developing a national register to catalog crimes against women and called it ‘National register of embarrassment’.
The senator emphasised appointing special public prosecutors for crimes against women and increasing the participation of women in local governments.
Omer Aftab, the CEO of White Ribbon, said violence against women was a global phenomenon affecting one in three women, and Pakistan was no exception.
NCSW Chairperson Khawar Mumtaz said: “The NCSW has planned a national survey to monitor prevalence of violence which will serve as a baseline to check further progress.”
Secretary Ministry of Human Rights Rabiya Javeri Agha said: “Despite many government initiatives, forces of patriarchy continue to hamper women’s inclusive and sustainable growth.”
Sangeeta Thapa, the deputy representative of the UN Women Pakistan, read out UN Secretary General António Guterres’ message for the day.
Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2017
by admin | Oct 25, 2022 | Uncategorized
Sukkur, Friday 24 November 2017: Different organizations including UN women, NARI foundation, NCSW and White Ribbon Pakistan marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in Sukkur with the theme “Break silence and raise voices for violence against women”.
In this regard, an awareness walk was held in front of Press Club Sukkur. The walk was attended by a large number of members of PPP and social welfare officers including Fatima Mangi, Anwar Mahar, Safia Baloch, Bisma Waseem, Azra Jamal and others.
The main objective of the walk was to assemble everyone to raise voice on the matter of Gender Violence. Talking on the occasion, participants of the walk said that violence against women can only be ended when men and women will start working as a mutual force.
They said that we all have to raise our voices against the brutalities over women.White Ribbon Pakistan and NARI foundation Sukkur also announced a global campaign on the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence in all areas of Sukkur which will start from 25 November through 10 December against the backdrop of an unprecedented global outcry. 02
by admin | Oct 25, 2022 | Uncategorized
By Omer Aftab
Mutilated bodies of children found on garbage heaps, girls forced to return sexual favors at educational institutes and workplaces and women consigned to the hell of forced marriages; all of us come across such incidents in routine now. These are just a few forms of the menace, we call sexual terrorism that is widely engulfing our society and as a result, our women and children are living in deep disarray.
Sexual violence manifests itself in a number of different forms with the most commonly recognized form being rape which consists of a wide variety of acts ranging from child sexual abuse, incest,exhibitionism, voyeurism, obscene phone calls, fondling, sexual harassment, ridiculing a woman to try to limit her sexuality, controlling her reproductive choices, withholding sexual activity in an attempt to punish or hurt her, and treating women as immoral or sinful for expressing sexual needs or desires.
The other soft targets of sexual terrorists are children. According to a report, published by a social sector organization, around 11 cases of child abuse are reported each day in Pakistan. Most of the victims lose their lives during or after the act while the survivors live through awful physical and psychological traumas. The dilemma is that we are gradually becoming dumb or used to such acts. A sudden hype is witnessed at the end of human right groups, media, public and the government when a sexual abuse incident comes to spotlight and then the dust is settled.
Also Read:Ways to combat child sexual abuse
Pakistan’s social fabric is based on the teachings of Islam which strictly prohibits any sort of violence, be it physical, sexual or psychological. Moreover, number of laws have been passed during last decade to protect women and children from violence and ensure gender justice in the society. Despite this, we see sexual crimes rising every day.
Sexual terrorism is spreading tentacles not only for the reasons that our legal system is fragile somehow and our society is largely driven by misogynist and patriarchal mindset but there are a number of other contributing factors that we hardly pay attention to.
Lack of education is the root cause whether we admit it or not. Despite some drastic advancements in informational technology and media and different governments’ endeavors to perk up literacy rate during last decade, a huge portion of the society goes on being uneducated and uncultured. When these feral mind are exposed to national and international entertainment media and internet pornography, they are naturally prone to experience sensual behavior which eventually leads to frustration and when this frustration is not channelized, it gives birth to different sexual crimes.
This is turning into a grave mental health issue. This horde of feral and frustrated minds are not only committing sexual crimes, this is hindering the society’s overall well-being and development. So, when we talk about policy making and legal reforms to counter sexual terrorism, we must focus on mental health aspect too.
Another dilemma of our society is communication gap between parents and children and teachers and children. It is one of the prime responsibility of parents and teachers to guide children and adolescents about their sexual health and behavior and train them to deal with odd and unwanted situations confidently. Following the Zainab rape and murder case earlier this year, a campaign of teaching children to differentiate between good touch and bad touch was initiated. This is a good step which must be encouraged and supported.
Also Read:Five Reasons Why Child Abuse Is Rampant In Pakistan
The perpetrators of sexual crimes prey on the atmosphere of silence and helplessness by the victims. In a society like ours, where the interpretations of religion and culture have been historically male-dominated, it is still considered a serious taboo to openly talk about sexual violence and crimes. Thus, a large number of the victims remain tight-lipped for fear of being further morally oppressed and intimidated upon reporting.
To counter and control this endemic, we need to empower our women and give them voice. We see women in the developed world are breaking silence through the #MeToo movement. Our women must join hands too to ensure a violence free society. Media, clergy, administration and civil society need to launch a joint effort to spread awareness and education about combating sexual terrorism and capacitate women and children, through moral and physical trainings, to actively resist and report sexual crimes so that the perpetrators are punished and victims are given relief on time.
The writer is CEO White Ribbon Pakistan and is a development and communications professional with extensive experience in Health Awareness, Behaviour Transformation Communications and Strategic Public Relations. He tweets at @MrOmerAftab.
