In Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, an estimated six women are murdered, eight are sexually assaulted, eleven are battered, and thirty-two are abducted on a daily basis. An effective response mechanism is direly needed to counter the incidence of gender-based violence. An assessment of the country’s existing criminal justice system provides insight on what is needed to better protect women and girls.
For decades, religious intolerance and discrimination motivated by blasphemy laws have been salient, notorious features of Pakistan’s societal fabric. Such laws have enabled a culture of fear and ongoing violence waged on religious minorities. A culture shift that entails pro-equity legislation, curriculum reform and a more moderate interpretation of religion is needed to ensure the social protection of all.
Despite Pakistan’s efforts to eliminate gender-based violence (GBV), violence against women has continued to fester within the country and has claimed an estimated 5,000 lives annually. An overview of the cultural, social and institutional barriers that women must navigate affirms the need for necessary reforms in the social, economic, and judicial sectors capable of creating a sociocultural environment that is conducive to women’s safety and autonomy.