Violence against women - I

International Women Day (March 8) is a globe day celebrating women's achievements in various fields across the world. This year, the UN has decided to celebrate the day with theme 'Time to Action to End Violence against Women.' But when we look into the state of affairs running in Pakistan, women's situation is more miserable despite recent legislation for the protection of their rights.
The World Economic Forum's report 2012 on global gender gap has placed Pakistan with Chad and Yemen where females face worst gender discrimination. A local NGO reported rise in violence against women in the past year while newspapers reported 150 incidents of throwing acid on women ageing from six months to 45 years in 2012. Every 5th woman in our country faces humiliating attitude and torture of her husband, 95 percent face domestic violence and 97 percent get no share in their inherited properties. A research shows around one and half lac per year women trafficking from South Asia for prostitution. As per police reports, average one lac women are killed in the name of honour and 550 from every one lac die during delivery.
The miserable situation, in presence of laws especially women protection bill, acid control and crime bill, protection against harassment at workplace bill, law of inheritance and CEDAW convention for the framing of which social organisations made long time struggle, clearly describes the challenges facing a Pakistani lady for her security. The rising incidents of crime against females also put question mark on framing of the legislation. No doubt the laws are first step towards woman's security, the question arises then where the problem is and why these regulations are ineffective. The truth is that the treatment with 50 per cent of country's women population is not different as were during the dark ages. Police attitude and costly and complex judicial system are two main hindrances that stop 90 percent women from reporting injustice against them. Questions arise why the life of a woman lies in danger zone in a country where a woman served two times as prime minister, where countless government ministries claim working for the welfare of women and where hundreds of NGOs and lawyers struggle for females' protection. All these facts are intertwined with rotten and worn out political, social and economic system wherein no process or wish of accountability has ever been longed for. The philosophy of might is right is not only encouraged but also made an inevitable part of the life style. Nothing could be established succinctly after the independence as to what system should be adopted to run the administrative, cultural and social affairs of the state.