The fifth International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on Thursday was commemorated in the provincial metropolis with silence, as the NGOs making tall claims about women rights not organised a single event to mark the Day. The day is observed every year under the auspices of United Nations since 2000, with the objective to focus fight against gender-based violence in all its forms- whether it be domestic violence, rape, sexual harassment, torture and abuse of women prisoners, or violence against women in armed conflict.
However, the silence of various human rights bodies and NGOs working in Pakistan raises various questions about their claims regarding protection of women rights.
Nevertheless, the Day calls upon us to raise public awareness over the global scourge of violence against women in all its forms, and to ensure that wherever it occurs, it will be met with global condemnation.
It may be mentioned that member states of the United Nations have adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, which outlines strategies for its elimination.
Violence against women is a global phenomenon which cuts across class, race, ethnic, religious and cultural boundaries. It is multifaceted and affects all aspects of women's lives. Women in Pakistan face the threat of multiple forms of violence, including sexual violence by family members, strangers, and law enforcing officials; domestic abuse, including spousal murder and being burned, disfigured with acid, beaten, and threatened; ritual "honour" killings; and custodial abuse and torture, analysts said.
Meanwhile, President Pak Women Welfare Organisation, Qamar Shaheen told Business Recorder here on Thursday that violence against women has become as much a pandemic as HIV/AIDS, or malaria. But is still not given the due attention it deserves, she added. Qamar Shaheen maintained that a Pakistani woman is beset with the crippling handicaps of illiteracy, maternity hazards and poor health and, despite the relative privilege of some, all Pakistani women remain structurally disadvantaged and second-class citizens as a result of legal and societal discrimination premised on social and cultural norms and attitudes.'
Comments
Comments are closed.