Group Members: Ammara Batool (120759) Sabbila Ejaz (120988)

Outline Domestic Violence Domestic Violence Against Women Causes of Violence The Constitution of Pakistan Violence Against Children

Continued Form of Children Abuse Initiatives taken by Government Are Men in Pakistan Victims of Domestic Violence? Recommendations

Domestic Violence Domestic Violence is a pattern of behavior which involves violence or other abuse by one person in a domestic context against another, such as in marriage. This sort of violence refers to both physical and psychological abuse of a person and the following acts which can be identified as domestic violence are not exhaustive: • Physical violence • Threatening violence • Economic abuse • Emotional abuse • Controlling behavior • Harassment • Threatening to harm the victim’s children or extended family • Forced relations

Pakistan ranks 133 out of 135 countries on the Gender Equality Index (Global Gender Gap Report, 2011) - a further decline from its 125th position a decade ago. 65% women are victim of domestic violence in Pakistan according to1997 report of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. A bill against domestic violence was presented to the National Assembly on August 4, 2009, by members of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) with the support of Civil Society Organizations.

Continued The bill was applicable only in the federal territory, and not to the entire country. It is now languishing because post-18th amendment, new legislations have become a provincial matter .

Cases Reported: During year 2013, 7515 number of cases of violence against women was reported, of which: 4766 were reported from Punjab 63% In Sindh1628 cases were reported 674 cases were reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) 167 cases were reported from Balochistan Whereas 281 cases of violence against women were reported from Islamabad

Continued In 2014, 5,151 women have been subjected to violence in Punjab alone — among them 774 murdered, 217 killed for ‘honor’, 1,569 abducted, 706 raped/gang- raped and 427 driven to suicide. According to stats ( January 1,2013 to September 15, 2014 ) there were 860 ‘honor’ killings (mostly women), 481 incidents of domestic violence, 90 cases of acid burning, 344 cases of rape/gang rape, and 268 incidents of sexual assault/harassment

Causes of Violence Cultural notions Violence related to poverty and work-related stress Patriarchal institutions Islam Illiteracy

The Constitution Of Pakistan Any Pakistani citizen may approach any Pakistani Court of Law (which has relevant jurisdiction) in case their fundamental rights are infringed in any unlawful manner. However these rights are not accessible by all citizens of Pakistan due to low level of literacy and the lack of awareness of one’s rights.

Violence Against Children

In Pakistan, the most pervasive forms of violence against children include neglect, corporal punishment meted out in schools, seminaries and households; child sexual abuse, acid attacks on girls, child marriages, killing and suicide, kidnapping and trafficking and recruitment of children in armed conflict. 

Form Of Children Abuse Neglect Neglect is one of the most common forms of abuse of children Suicide and Killing Child suicide and killing of children by family members is becoming increasingly common in Pakistan Corporal Punishment The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child defines ‘corporal’ or ‘physical’ punishment as any punishment in which physical force is used to cause some degree of pain and discomfort however light

Continued Child Marriage UNICEF has reported that 70,000 girls aged 15-19 die each year due to child birth In Pakistan, the legal age for marriage under the Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929 is 18 years for boys and 16 years for girls. Acid Attack Experts claim that around 150 victims of acid attacks are reported from different parts of the country every year

Continued Child Abduction and Trafficking Pakistan is ranked among the top five most dangerous countries in the world for kidnap and ransom. The Human Rights Commission South Asia (HRCSA) reported that in 2011 alone around 7000 cases of child abduction were reported from across Pakistan. Majority of the kidnappings took place in Karachi where 3090 children were abducted in 2011.

Continued Children in Armed Conflict: Children in Pakistan have been deeply afflicted by armed conflicts especially in the conflict ridden zones of FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Children were not only victims of the conflict but were also recruited as child suicide bombers by various extremist groups

Initiatives Taken By Government Addressing Corporal Punishment in Schools The Punjab government banned corporal punishment in provincial schools in 2005. In December 2011, the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa established Child Protection Units in 8 districts of the province under the Child Protection and Welfare Act (2010). In 2006, the Sindh Secretary of Education issued a separate directive to prohibit the practice of corporal punishment in the provincial educational institutions The Government of Balochistan banned corporal punishment in schools through a directive issued in 2010

Continued Domestic Violence Law: Domestic violence law provides the criminal rules for punishing those who cause emotional or physical harm to others with whom they share a family or other close relationship.

Are men in Pakistan victims of domestic violence?

Are men in Pakistan victims of domestic violence? Domestic violence is often viewed as a woman-centered issue, but it must be acknowledged that men are also susceptible to it. “While the prevalence of domestic violence in patriarchal societies is mostly perpetrated against women, as they have reduced rights, that is not to say men don’t face it,” says Hera Hussain.

Recommendations Legal Reforms and endorsement of law Enforcement of law i.e. The Prevention of Anti-Women Practices (Criminal Law Amendment) Act 2011 should be ensured by respective departments Child marriages should be stopped and contributing factors to it should also be eliminated with the support of the government and Civil Society Organizations.

Continued Health Services Shelters and other safe places for women and children should be established at the district level. Improved collaboration between health and other sectors (police, legal and social aid etc) should be focused through a well-established referral system

Continued Education and Life Skill Based Education (LSBE): Article 25A of 18th Constitutional Amendment defines mandatory education for all up to 16 years. Life Skills Based Education. Parenting skills should be offered to parents and caregivers. Income generating interventions/poverty alleviation: Interventions on violence against women and men's engagement should be linked to livelihood or employment-creation interventions