by admin | Oct 25, 2022 | Uncategorized
LAHORE: Around 60 to 70pc of women in Pakistan are suffering from some form of violence and abuse, around 5,000 women are killed every year while thousands become disabled because of domestic violence.
These figures have been revealed by the White Ribbon, an organisation which focuses on Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG), on the Day of Elimination of Violence against Women to mark the International 16 Days of Activism from Nov 25 to Dec 9.
Expressing concerns at the current condition of Pakistani women, White Ribbon CEO Omer Aftab stressed the need for immediate steps for eradication of violence against women.
“One out of every five women in Pakistan faces domestic violence and the ratio has increased alarmingly by 20pc in recent years,” he said.
Speaking at a nationwide pledge campaign launched by White Ribbon, he said the incidents of the VAWG, including domestic violence, murder, rape, child abuse, child marriages, honour killing, harassment and other anti-women cultural practices, were on the rise.
“White Ribbon is striving to end the violence against women by engaging men and boys to take the pledge: Never to commit violence, excuse it or remain silent about it. White Ribbon is actually a men’s movement to end violence against women by addressing men and the patriarchal mindset of individuals and society. We believe it is not sufficient to create awareness about women rights among the women only, men must join them; to encourage norms of consent, respect and gender equality; to challenge the unfair power relations, which promote gender-based violence,” Mr Aftab added.
Published in Dawn
by admin | Oct 25, 2022 | Uncategorized
LAHORE: White Ribbon Campaign Pakistan arranged ‘White Ribbon Ride’ to end violence against women in collaboration with ‘Crazy Horse’ and HOG Pakistan. Motorcycle riders holding White Ribbon flags and white ribbon placed on their jackets and helmets departed from Lahore Polo Club and reached Indigo Heights. With passion and purpose, the group rode across Jail Road, Main Boulevard, Liberty Market and Hussain Chowk to highlight the message of White Ribbon.
The activity was the part of 16 Days of Activism to End Violence against Women, commemorated each year starting November 25 to December 10.
It was men reaching out to men in which bikers spread the message that beating women or violence against women is not okay. The riders took a pledge never to commit, excuse and remain silent about violence against women. They invited other men to join the men’s movement to end violence against women. A movement launched by the men who are not afraid to stop violence against women.
Talking to the media CEO White Ribbon Omer Aftab said, “We need millions of men as agents of change to end violence against women.” Eradicating violence against women from society is not possible without engaging men, he said. One of the representatives of the bikers’ group showed deep concern for the victims of violence and said a good Muslim and a good human being would never harm any woman around him and we must protect the women suffering from violence. Managing director of Indigo Heights Col (retd) Ahmad Fazeel Khan said Indigo Heights is a proud sponsor of the activity.
It’s an exciting initiative where riders who look cool and ride powerful bikes, talk about respectful relationships and tackling violence against women.
Published in THE NEWS
by admin | Oct 25, 2022 | Uncategorized
Patriarchal culture is one of the biggest barriers in ending violence against women. The system provides cultural support to men for undermining women. The system institutionalizes male power over women and puts male interests and values at the centre of social life. It allows or encourage men to exploit women.
The supporters of patriarchal society justify patriarchy by attributing natural biological differences between men and women. The Greek Philosopher Aristotle portrayed women as inferior to men morally, intellectually and physically. Patriarchal society gives absolute priority to men and some extent limits women’s human rights.
The patriarchal mindset gave birth to the masculinity and femineity in which both men and women are associated with some attributes, behaviours and roles that are acceptable and appropriate for people based on their gender ignoring the fact that both men (boys) and women (girls) can exhibit Masculine and Feminine traits and behaviour.
For instance, Women are supposed to be shy, passive and submissive. Men are expected to be tough, aggressive, dominant and self-confident. Women are supposed to cook, do housework and raise children. On the other hand, men cannot cook, do house chores or babysit. Women are expected to be beautiful, slim, clear skin and delicate while men are supposed to be tall, rough and muscular. Even jobs are gender-stereotyped, firefighting is thought of as a man’s job, whereas nursing is thought of as women’s work.
It is considered that women’s role in society is to reproduce and serve men in the household. All these gender-based beliefs lead to gender discrimination and unequal or unfair treatment to women.
Men who think they are superior, their destructive beliefs and expectations about what it means to be a man provoke them to show their manhood, strength and power through violence and aggression. More often than not, toxic masculinity ends up inflicting violence on women.
Patriarchy and toxic masculinity have an immense impact on the lives of women in every field of life. For instance, in government women have less formal power and representation. In the household, they are considered a machine who produce the children and raise them. Moreover, they are more likely to being abused physically, psychologically, emotionally, socially and economically. They have fewer opportunities in professional life and also paid less. They are treated negatively in terms of sexuality. They are more misrepresented and used as a commodity in media and popular culture.
Patriarchy does not necessarily mean that every man has control over every woman in every context. all men do not participate or experience patriarchy in the same way. Various groups, most notably the feminist movement, have led efforts to change aspects of patriarchy that they believe are oppressive or inaccurate.
Considering the situation “White Ribbon Campaign” is striving to eradicate violence against women with a unique approach of addressing the patriarchal mindset of induvial and society. It engages men to end the violence because men can play a significant role in ending violence against women by changing their behaviour towards women, challenging other abusive men and convincing others to stop violence against women too.
Working with men and boys can offer new models of masculinity and manhood, which reject gender violence and build respect for women and girls.
White Ribbon’s men engagement campaign engages decision-makers and opinion leaders who hold a good position in the society to get political, financial, and moral support in ending violence against women
White Ribbon also uses the concept of Fatherhood because It can be a strong motivator for men who engage in violence to end it while keeping in view the better upbringing and developmental process of their children. It is well considered to be a part of a long-term solution to ending violence.
We will be able to witness less violence in society as more men will focus on caregiving, nurturing and making efforts to bring up their kids as better human beings. It will ultimately result in less violence against children, less violence against women and less violence against other men.
by admin | Oct 25, 2022 | Uncategorized
HIV affects millions of people worldwide every year and is a major public health concern. HIV aims and contaminates the CD4 cells in immune system of a person’s body which protects him/her from germs and illnesses. HIV causes AIDS by attacking the CD4 cells, which the defense system uses to protect the body from ailments. Lack of awareness on precautionary measures and limited access to healthcare facilities are a major contributor to increasingly HIV mortalities.
In 2020, 680,000 people died because of HIV related causes and 37,700,000 estimated number of people were found living with HIV. Moreover 1,500,000 people were newly infected with this virus in the same year. World AIDS Day is observed every year on 1st December since 1988. This day is well thought-out as an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to remember those who have died from an AIDS-related illness.
On the occasion of World AIDS Day, we must not forget that with our support and love, we can help many patients with AIDS feel a lot better. They are already suffering from AIDS, don’t make them suffer with your behavior. As long as it’s about HIV, hate the disease but not the diseased. Spread awareness, not ignorance. Together we must work hard to put an end to this disease and have a beautiful tomorrow.
by admin | Oct 25, 2022 | Uncategorized
The COVID 19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges for everyone, but particularly has intensified them for women living with abusive family members. In Punjab alone, two emergency helplines, PUCAR-15 and PSCA-A5, have recorded a dramatic rise in reports since the beginning of the pandemic, with PUCAR-15 reporting a staggering 25% increase. Unfortunately, while the number of reported cases may be on the rise, help available for victims is diminishing.
Pakistan is not alone in witnessing this alarming increase in domestic violence over the past year. In the UK, calls to the national abuse hotline escalated by 65%, while in China, reports of domestic violence cases to the local police tripled last year. Similar trends were witnessed in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, with many countries reporting increases of over 50%. Rozan, an organization supporting women’s rights, reported that mandatory quarantines resulting in restricted movement have become an added stressor for those facing pre-existing limitations on space. These have forced families to spend more time together, an environment in which stress can intensify. Economic and health-related uncertainty caused by the pandemic, such as increased unemployment and reduced access to hospitals, are further stressors behind abusers’ increased hostility towards their partners.
Suffice it to say, the COVID pandemic has contributed towards a deplorable pandemic of domestic violence. As the world’s attention is focused on developing vaccines to stem the spread of COVID-19, let us resolve to fight domestic violence. In the short term, we must encourage victims to reach out to community resources such as help-centers and helplines. According to multiple reports from women, such shelters have provided the monetary, legal, and rehabilitative help needed to escape their abusive circumstances. In addition to Rozan, there are many domestic violence centers and helplines victims in Pakistan can turn to; local domestic violence helplines include 1099 and 1043. Shelters include the Panah Shelter in Karachi, Dar-ul-Aman shelter in Lahore and the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Center in Islamabad.
Individuals can pursue legislative action through collectivizing and demanding implementation of restorative justice mechanisms: legislative mechanisms that aim the focus of the court’s power on helping the victims. All parties involved in the complaint converge on the resolution that most effectively provides the victim with closure and empowerment, centering their needs. A study conducted in Salt Lake City, Utah in which abusers were assigned either into a traditional batterer intervention program or a hybrid traditional-plus-restorative justice program, indicated that participants from the hybrid program showed a 52% decline in the severity of new crimes over a two-year period.
Another course of action can be implemented through the healthcare sector: training of healthcare professionals on intimate partner violence so they can build their expertise, and subsequently undertake screening – a means of identifying victims of domestic violence. Such professionals can also advocate for greater psychological and legal support for victims. A greater emphasis needs to be placed on medico-legal departments, those in which the fields of medicine and law converge, in public hospitals in Pakistan. Such departments can help victims by providing other healthcare workers with guidance and knowledge on effective management of domestic violence victims.
We have resolved to win the fight against COVID-19. Let us also resolve to win the fight against domestic violence.
by admin | Oct 25, 2022 | Uncategorized
The Balochistan High Court has ordered the government to assist women in obtaining their share of the inheritance.
Advocate Muhammad Sajid Tarin filed a petition in the court against women being deprived of their share in inheritance, especially property.
“In most cases, whenever a settlement is made for inherited property, women are conveniently ignored or sidelined from the process,” he said.
A two-member bench, comprising Chief Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan, remarked that under Section 498 A of the Pakistan Penal Code, anyone depriving women of their rightful share of inheritance shall be punished.
The law states: “Whoever by deceitful or illegal means deprives any woman from inheriting any movable or immovable property at the time of opening of succession shall be punished with imprisonment for either description for a term which may extend to ten years but not be less than five years or with a fine of one million rupees or both”.
The judges remarked that the government should take the responsibility of ensuring women receive their rightful share.
“The government should also run electronic and digital campaigns creating awareness over the issue, especially among women,” the court said, adding that the law should be taught in schools and colleges as well.
The Director-General of NADRA has been directed to establish a special desk at the revenue office of the relevant district/tehsil for provision of the family tree of the deceased, whose property is either likely to be inherited or settled during the settlement operation to ensure inclusion of names of female legal heirs of the deceased.
The Board of Revenue officials have also been directed to establish a complaint cell at the revenue offices to avoid any unnecessary delay in the process of inheritance and settlement operation and also to eradicate the possibility of illegal gratification.
Chief Justice Mandokhail observed, “Right of female legal heirs have been protected by the Holy Quran and Sunnah, thus, any custom or tradition (Rawaj) contrary to the Holy Quran should not be followed, while recording mutation of inheritance and during the settlement proceedings”.
by admin | Oct 25, 2022 | Uncategorized
New studies have revealed that domestic violence against women in Pakistan has increased. A recent study revealed that up to 84% of women participants have been psychologically abused by their husbands in their lifetime, while 77% and 80% of women in other studies have confirmed that they were targets of sexual and physical violence, respectively. Moreover, according to media reports, more than 51,241 cases of violence against women were reported between January 2011 and June 2017. Conviction rates, meanwhile, remain low, with the accused in just 2.5% of all reported cases ending up being convicted by the courts. It is important to note that these statistics provide moderate estimates of violence prevalence in Pakistan, as women are hesitant to share sensitive information about their marital lives in the patriarchal society of Pakistan. Above all, Pakistan ranks fourth on the list of the world’s most dangerous countries for women. Furthermore, another report shows a 73 percent drop in the cases of violence was witnessed during February but a spike of up to 360 percent was witnessed during March 2020.
In a majority of cases of sexual violence, a perpetrator is a man known to the woman or the child victim. So, Violence against women is more structural than causal in this society. Rape, one of the biggest violations of human rights. Day by day, the number of rape cases are increasing, which itself is one of the biggest violation of human rights. On top of this, the brutality of the act is also getting more and more horrendous. In many cases, videos of rape victims are used to blackmail them to file a case against the perpetrators. Mostly in cases of domestic violence and assault, police adopt an accusatory approach towards the complainants and asked women to ‘prove their innocence before registering the offense (committed) against them.
Violence in any society is detrimental. It takes ages to get rid of it. In this regard, the chief justice of Pakistan has recently announced that 1,000 courts would be set up to deal with the cases of violence against women. Pakistan reported 2,297 cases of violence against women from 25 districts between January and December 2020. Awareness needs to be raised via electronic means. Throughout the country, funding for round-the-clock hotlines and shelters must be provided, with rapid testing facilities and appropriate World Health Organization health protocols. Basic safety planning and escape plans for extreme situations must be discussed. Protecting our women is the first step toward establishing a state like Madina.
by admin | Oct 22, 2022 | Uncategorized
Suicide is a major public health concern worldwide. Annually, more than 10 million individuals attempt suicide, of which one million die. The majority of suicide cases (79%) occur in low and middle-income countries. Multiple studies have shown that domestic violence survivors have higher rates of suicidal thoughts. Moreover, physical assault increases the risk of suicidal attempts in married women, the impact of emotional violence, including the infidelity of husband, jealousy of husband, threats to divorce, threats to physical assaults, being isolated from family members and, control and coercion of husband on suicidal attempts is greater than physical assault.
Female victims with a chronic illness or disability who experience intimate partner violence have an increased risk of threatening or attempting suicide. Women who undergo such abuse (particularly sexual) may exhibit suicidal ideation. Suffering humiliation, ridicule, or neglect can deplete self-worth and further drive social isolation. Such victimization runs counter to the need to belong and feel valued. When this goes unmet, a passive desire for death may arise. In addition to this, Moderate suicidal ideation may arise as individuals continue to experience both psychological pain, hopelessness, loss of connectedness with other people, social roles, interests, and sense of meaning in life, as well as a continued feeling of burdensomeness.
Suicide risk among those reporting domestic violence also may be linked to when this abuse finally comes to light. Few victims report their initial domestic victimization, with most not doing so until they have endured multiple assaults. Therefore, any report probably indicates a word-long history of violence. Also, this suggests that law enforcement officers may be the first responders to encounter victims with high suicide risk.
Even though, in Pakistan, suicide rates are lower than in the west. Nevertheless, it leads to spiritual death instead. This leads to the victims losing the taste of life and just surviving while suffering. Violence against women is multi-dimensional and its definition varies based on ethical, cultural, and legal factors. Delay in the detection of domestic violence imposes serious threats to women’s life. To reduce the burden of suicide in women, families, and society, it is important that violence against women is taken seriously and addressed at both individual and system levels.
Considering the crucial role women play in the construction of a society and a nation, such consequences are alarming. As a nation, we should try to help any such victim in our surroundings because help is easier than compensating for the loss of some valuable life either physically or spiritually. After all, suicide is not a solution. This is not how this centuries’ long tyranny of males can end, it can only be put to a halt by standing against it and fighting it.
by admin | Oct 22, 2022 | Uncategorized
When the federal government introduced a bill to prevent violence against women, the people of Pakistan were hopeful that it would help lessen the ever-increasing cases of domestic abuse and provide refuge to people from physical or emotional assault. But the opposition saw the contents of the Bill to be challenging patriarchal violence too brazenly, and so the Islamic Ideological Council deliberately rejected the bill. It seems that the people in charge aren’t just complicit in but are actively contributing to Pakistan’s problems.
The Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill 2021 was introduced to punish all acts of physical, emotional, psychological, sexual and economic abuse against women, children and other vulnerable persons, or any other person with whom the respondent is or has been in a domestic relationship. The main aims of the Bill were to provide relief and rehabilitation for victims of domestic abuse and any other vulnerable people such as the elderly, assist victims in distancing themselves from abuse through the creation of a Protection Committee and allow Courts to grant interim orders, protection custody, and financial compensation to victims.
According to the Bill, stalking, invasion of privacy, character assassination and insults would also be classified as forms of domestic violence. Therefore, the Bill provided a much wider scope for protection of women, covering forms of abuse beyond just physical harassment. The Bill also included imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to Rs. 100,000 for domestic violence. Another recommendation of the Bill was the recruitment of Protection Officers who would be responsible for reporting domestic violence cases and collecting data.
On April 19th, 2021, Shireen Mazari, the Human Rights Minister, moved the Bill in the National Assembly and, on the same day, it passed in the lower house. The Opposition sent the Bill to a standing committee who were then asked by the Senate to submit a report on it. Their report suggested multiple amendments to the Bill. It was then referred back to the Lower House of Parliament. However, in June, the Opposition began to raise concerns over the Bill.
Babar Awan, adviser to the Prime Minister on parliamentary affairs, wrote to Asad Qaiser, National Assembly speaker, to raise concerns over the content of the Bill. The letter stated that the Bill should be referred to the Islamic Council to ensure it is in line with the Constitution of Paksitan and the principles of Islam. However, many people have criticized this decision as the Council, in 2016, proposed a law that would allow a husband to lightly beat his wife. There is an established precedent of the Islamic Ideological Council encouraging men who are violent towards their partners, and then safeguarding them after their crime has been committed. Religious groups have also criticized the definition of domestic violence as stated in the Bill as being too vague and too broad. They claim that having such a broad definition can lead to the legislation being misused. Even though countless women die every year due to domestic violence in Pakistan, our leaders have failed to take decisive action to protect them, let alone to punish their abusers. .
According to research, around 70 to 90% of Pakistani women are subjected to domestic violence. As the pandemic continues, this issue is becoming increasingly prevalent. In Sindh, where the Domestic Violence Bill is already legislated, was it able to save Qurat-ul-Ain from being beaten to death by her husband? How could she take refuge in the law, given the social structures that protect men and villainise women who dare speak up? These laws are nonetheless the first step needed to ensure the safety and rehabilitation of victims and the punishment of abusers, and to establish a precedent of our leaders actually caring about the violence that affects women disproportionately. The recent domestic violence cases in Pakistan have only emphasized the dire need for the Bill – a hope for top-down decisive action to punish those that we as a society have failed to hold accountable.
by admin | Oct 22, 2022 | Uncategorized
Most research concerning risk factors has indicated that lack of education is a risk factor for domestic violence. Lack of education is generally defined as having earned less than a high school diploma, although some studies include those with less than a college degree in their definition. It has been noted that women with less education experience domestic violence at higher rates than women who have achieved a higher level of education. This does not mean that people with higher levels of education cannot be victims of domestic violence; it simply means that the risk of being a victim of domestic violence is greater for those with less than a high school or college education.
Lack of education leads to a lack of employment. If abuse already exists in a relationship, the lack of education and strained income of the victim provides the abuser with an upper hand in feeding upon the victim’s vulnerability. Many victims of domestic violence stay in their situations due to feelings of necessity. The victim has often been isolated from friends and family by the abuser, and this unequal financial arrangement further fuels her sense of dependency and reluctance to leave. The victim may be unable to seek employment which makes leaving the relationship financially feasible, or unable to seek any employment at all.
Education provides one with opportunities to learn new things. Knowledge is not the only advantage to an increased educational level. Education in safe and inspiring learning environments is one of the best ways to empower girls and reduce harmful practices like child marriage and female genital mutilation. An educated girl will understand her rights; have the confidence to claim them and make her own choices about her future.
Ending violence against women will require major and far-reaching social change. The history of respectful relationships or gender-based violence education indicates that schools can play a significant role in this process. But it is short-term, inadequately funded approaches that do little to recognize the complexity of change and the time it takes to bring an education community to a common understanding, awareness, and commitment to change. So, we should all start educating our girls to empower them, as this is the only way to save them from domestic violence or the fear of being left alone.
