Ending Violence Against Women and Girls in Pakistan - A Collective Responsibility

Author: Faria Salman

Islamabad, Pakistan – A nation ranked the world's third most dangerous place for girls and women in the Thomson Reuters Foundation expert poll in 2011; a nation ‘plagued’ with thousands of reported cases of violence against women every year from domestic violence, rape, acid attacks, sexual assault, kidnappings, and honor killings; and a nation with abysmally low convictions for these heinous crimes, it has become all the more important to collectively curb this menace through legislation and strengthened institutional ‘defence’ mechanisms for victims and their access to justice.

Women and men discuss the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016, and institutional ‘defence’ mechanisms for victims and their access to justice. Photo: UN Women/Atif Mansoor Khan

Earlier this year the Punjab Provincial Assembly passed the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016, the first legislation of its kind in Pakistan and the region, with its own implementation structure - Violence Against Women Centres (VAWCs). The new law intends to criminalize all forms of violence against women, including domestic, emotional, psychological, economic, or sexual.

Pakistan’s Inter-Agency Gender and Development Group (INGAD) under the co-chairship of the Australian High Commission and UN Women (United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women) brought together a number of influential Pakistani women and men to discuss the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016, VAWCs and opportunities to prevent and protect women from abuse and violence.

The panel discussion on ‘ending violence against women and girls’ held on 21 July 2016 at the Residence of the Australian High Commissioner focused on provincial responsibilities (post-devolution) to ensure comprehensive measures protecting women and justice to women survivors. It also addressed gaps and key constraints that hinder progress to end violence against women and girls in Pakistan, and particularly in Punjab.

“Violence against women is a very serious problem affecting all societies and every country,” Ms. Margaret Adamson, Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, said in opening the discussion. “Gender equality is a core foreign policy priority for Australia, and I am reassured to be joined today by colleagues from all sectors of society who are committed to advancing the rights of women and promoting gender equality, not only in Pakistan, but globally, both as a human right, and out of sheer economic good sense.”

Mr. Salman Sufi, Senior Member, Chief Minister’s Special Monitoring Unit (Law and Order Wing) in presenting salient features and significance of Punjab’s comprehensive initiatives to protect women against violence said: “The collective fight against ending violence against women requires a united front. Punjab Province has sent a message to the world that we will never accept violence against women as a norm in society. The Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016 speaks for itself as to this resolve.” “The 24-hour district level VAWCs will be a first line of defence for victims, providing them with immediate relief and protection, in an all-women run facilities that will bring together under one roof - first aid, police reporting, FIR lodging, prosecution, medical examination, forensics and post-trauma rehabilitation,” he shared.

Ms. Hina Jillani (Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and Human Rights Defender) in her reflections on Punjab’s interventions shared: “The number of crimes of against women in Pakistan and across the world had passed the level of what can ever be tolerated or acceptable. The spirit in which Punjab’s legislation was developed is applauded, however a law itself is not important unless it is backed up with a strong ‘social’ policy from the State.” “Punjab’s law is a good relief to women after violence. However, whilst the ‘relief’ infrastructure is being developed in the form of a center in Multan, and whilst we work to change people’s and societies mindsets to end violence against women, the law needs to be enforced everywhere and existing institutions should be used to provide women survivors/victims with immediate relief,” she added.

Ms. Fauzia Viqar (Chairperson of Punjab’s Commission on the Status of Women) speaking on gender disparities said: “A recent data collection exercise undertaken by the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women in seven areas of Punjab has highlighted considerable disparities in all areas between men and women in their representation and access to rights - education, health, employment and family rights; disparities were seen even in the registration of girl and boy child births.” She stressed that: “Unless women are brought to the table, things will not improve. We need dedicated and strengthened institutions to provide services to women, and we must mainstream women’s access to rights.”

Mr. Jamshed Kazi, Country Representative, UN Women Pakistan, in delivering the closing remarks said: “It is agreed that legislation alone will not address the mental state and issues we have to struggle with in Pakistan and other countries to end violence against women and girls. Punjab’s Protection of Women Against Violence Act and VAWCs are a first for the country; with the spirit of openness, and willingness to listen and incorporate various viewpoints put forward, we are building on cumulative experiences and stand ready to support Punjab and other provinces to uphold their responsibilities to deter such crimes in the first place, and ensure that people who commit them are swiftly brought to justice.”

The Government of Pakistan has also last week announced legislation against “honour killings” will be sent to the Parliament for adoption next month. This follows mounting pressure to pass legislation to end all forms of violence against women and girls, and more so against murders being carried out in defence of family “honour,” which have escalated over the last few months.

INGAD is a group of donors and multilateral agencies who have been working to promote gender equality in the development and humanitarian sectors and interagency coordination in Pakistan since 1985. INGAD is chaired by different donors and UN agencies on a biannual rotational basis. The event also marked Australia’s tenure as rotating co-chair of INGAD for the six months to August 2016 in partnership with UN Women (a permanent co-chair).