‘90pc of women’s abuse cases in Pakistan not reported’

[Flintlock]

‘90pc of women’s abuse cases not reported’
Thursday, February 05, 2009
By By our correspondent
Karachi

Ninety per cent cases of violence against women in Pakistan are not reported by the media, Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid (LHRLA) President Zia Ahmed Awan advocate said. “As many as 67,706 cases of women abuse were reported in the country during the last nine years,” he said. Very few of them, however, made it to reports in the mainstream media.

Awan was speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday at the Madadgaar office. He said that 8,445 women were victimised in Pakistan in 2008 alone. Altogether, 13,613 cases of abuse of women were reported in Karachi between 2000 and 2008. Amongst them, 697 were murder cases, 174 rape-and-murder cases, 249 gang-rape cases, 165 rape cases, 10,041 torture cases, 85 karo-kari cases, 674 burn cases, 310 kidnapping for ransom cases, 310 suicide cases, 102 ‘hudood and zina’ cases, 241 women trafficking cases, 374 police torture cases, 50 cases of ‘vani swara’ and under the jirga and punchiat system and 210 cases of forced marriages.

“There is no political will to eliminate violence against women,” Awan said. “Violence against women is increasing but it is not yet clear whether violence as such is on the rise or more reporting is done due to an alert media. We are inviting academics to sort it out.”

He said that 2,472 cases of abuse of women were reported in Balochistan during the last nine years, 5,772 cases in the NWFP, 42,093 cases in Punjab and 17,369 cases in Sindh. The Punjab was on the top in women abuse cases followed Sindh, he said. Sixty one per cent cases were reported from Punjab alone, he said.

“The perpetrators included ‘amils,’ husbands and neighbours,” Awan said. “We need a surgery of the police and administration because they have totally failed to deliver.
‘90pc of women’s abuse cases not reported’

 

[Flintlock]

8,445 women victimised in country last year: report

KARACHI: In the past nine years, violence against women has seen an increase with more and more Pakistani women being victimised, revealed Lawyers for Human Rights & Legal Aid (LHRHA) President Advocate Zia Awan.

Addressing a press conference at the LHRHA run Madadgar Helpline Trust office, Awan said that data compiled since 2000 showed a sharp increase in the incidents of crime against women in Pakistan with 8,445 reported cases of female victimisation in 2008. According to Madadgar data, 67,706 women abuse cases have been registered between the years 2000 and 2008.

Karachi turned out to be a major hub of anti-women activities with 13,613 cases being registered that included murder, rape, torture, kidnap, karo kari, Hudood, trafficking, Vani Sawara as well as forced marriages between the years 2000 and 2008.

Talking about the arrest of the rapist gang from Clifton, Awan said, “So far thirty six victims have come forward to us against this gang of rapists who were busted by the police recently,” while imploring other victims to come forward.

He said that the number of reported cases is hardly
10 percent of the actual incidents that take place while inviting academics to come forward and investigate whether the numbers had increased because of incidents or whether the media was able to report more due to the freedom and exposure.

Awan asked the United Nations to take notice of the increase in the instances of violence against women saying that though Pakistan is a signatory of CEDAW, a lot has been left in terms of protecting women and safeguarding their rights.

“A major surgery needs to performed in all institutions, be it the judiciary, police and the administration so that the life and right of people especially women in the society can be protected,” said LHRHA president Awan.

Talking about ways to curb crimes against women, Awan said that each province should have a complaint cell to assist victims, as the process of registering an FIR is a cumbersome process. He also said that women police officers should be given the task to deal with cases pertaining to women as well as suggesting the appointment of women ombudsmen.

He also said that the database at Madadgar maintained not only the list of victims but also the abusers and perpetrators of heinous crimes so that they could be identified. Addressing a press conference, Madadgar Helpline Head Tahmeena Naseem Shah said “There is a marked increase in women abuse and the numbers in NWFP and Balochistan are way higher than the numbers in Sindh and Punjab but due to the fear of reporting these incidents, the figures remain low.” Tahmeena also added that Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Multan, Faisalabad and Sialkot proved to be violent cities for women, making Punjab the worst in terms of protecting the rights of women with Sindh following behind closely.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[Jihad]

It's a disgrace, if there's anything I like to see changed immediately, it's the harassment and abusing of women in Pakistan.
However, i'm afraid that untill our society modernizes and our police and security force improves drastically, the problem of sexual racism or abusement towards women will continue to exist.
I wonder how the people who do this can call themselves Muslims in Pakistan, they probably won't give a sh!t anyway.
Why can't men leave women alone, not only in Pakistan, but in the rest of the world.
If I was president of Pakistan, I'd have the death penalty to every person who commits such an act of rape or other form of sexual abuse or harassment towards women.
Females are a very important and respected part of the Pakistani society and nation as a whole, those who do not respect them and their values must be taught a good lesson.

 

[third eye]

Why Pak ? this was common in India too . Its only now with the media & NCW playing a maj role have things begun to change.. only slightly.

There is a marked change in awreness levels though now.

 

[metalfalcon]

Women Rights should be protected all over the world and there should be an International Law about this issue.

 

[Jihad]

Who cares if an Indian posts this, they also know damn well how the situation especially regarding women-rights are in their own country.
Why should we focus on them? Let us look at our own problems and try and come to a solution for it.

 

[Bane Blade]

Hardly matters in this case if it is India or Pakistan or even any other south asian country the problem is education because half the women don't even know their rights and the pity is that all these women rights idiots spend 90% on administrative charges and conferences in five star hotels the ground reality is that to bring change we would need to curb on illiteracy.
As for the news not being reported it takes a lot of moral courage for a woman to go upto file a case let alone approach the media because they feel that it would bring a sort of dishonour to the family.

 

[dbc]

Hardly matters in this case if it is India or Pakistan or even any other south asian country the problem is education because half the women don't even know their rights and the pity is that all these women rights idiots spend 90% on administrative charges and conferences in five star hotels the ground reality is that to bring change we would need to curb on illiteracy.
As for the news not being reported it takes a lot of moral courage for a woman to go upto file a case let alone approach the media because they feel that it would bring a sort of dishonour to the family.

Education and awareness of legal rights does not change the fact that women do not want to relive their ordeal or face their attacker. Also consider that many women do not want the rapist to be prosecuted in cases where the rape was perpetrated by a family member.
And then there is the humiliation of the rape kit and insensitive police officers asking stupid questions....and the possibility that your rapist could walk away scot free after your ordeal

 

[Bane Blade]

I did mention that it may bring dishounour to the family and the moral courage bit.

 

[dbc]

I did mention that it may bring dishounour to the family and the moral courage bit.

Good lad!! Here’s your candy

 

[RescueRanger]

Sadly it is true for a majority of S.A and S.E.Asian countires.

 

[Awesome]

Why Pak ? this was common in India too . Its only now with the media & NCW playing a maj role have things begun to change.. only slightly.

There is a marked change in awreness levels though now.

This thread is about the abuse of women in Pakistan, lets stick to topic here...

 

[dbc]

Sadly it is true for a majority of S.A and S.E.Asian countires.

Are there any rape counseling centers or anonymous toll free help lines in Pakistan or India? What about social workers? Do rape victims go to the doctor for emergency contraceptives (morning after pills)? Or ARV's for possible exposure to HIV? Are doctors required to report rape cases to the police? Are the police trained to handle rape cases?


The focus should be on preventing rapes and helping victims. Justice is important but the physical and emotional well being of the victim is the first priority.

 

[qsaark]

Women Rights should be protected all over the world and there should be an International Law about this issue.

There should be no discrimination between Women and Men Rights. Human rights should be protected all over the world and there should be an International Law about this issue.

 

[RescueRanger]

Are there any rape counseling centers or anonymous toll free help lines in Pakistan or India? What about social workers? Do rape victims go to the doctor for emergency contraceptives (morning after pills)? Or ARV's for possible exposure to HIV? Are doctors required to report rape cases to the police? Are the police trained to handle rape cases?


The focus should be on preventing rapes and helping victims. Justice is important but the physical and emotional well being of the victim is the first priority.

You just hit the nail on the head. Very few government support programs exist, the Civil Services Reforms Unit helped Islamabad Police to pioneer a support program and appointed specially trained Human Rights Officers, these HRO's are assigned to the SCU:Special Cases Unit (i.e.: Rape, Child Molestation etc).

The HRO works closely with the HRCP: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and NGOs such as Sahil and Rozan (who focus on Psychosocial care of victims) i have included the links for you.

Rozan.org - Home

Sahil

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan

Civil Service Reforms Unit--Establishment Division

See this document which lists all senior ranks who have enlisted on the Masters in Law:International Human Rights : http://www.csru.gov.pk/Forms/PDP Data/psp.pdf

Link for Islamabad Police: www.islamabadpolice.gov.pk/

Here is the Rozan/Police Partnership program: Rozan.org - Work With Islamabad Police

Hope this helps.