On Gender-Based Violence

THE world has stepped into the 21st Century in a troubled, unsettled and complex environment. Human rights are facing new and serious challenges from the forces of nationalism, fundamentalism, intolerance, separatism, economic and political upheavals. One of the most reprehensive manifestations of intolerance is discrimination based on gender. Gender-based violence and all forms of sexual harassment and exploitation are incompatible with the dignity of the human spirit. The world is in awe, witnessing the continued unbridled oppression of women and the slow progress that is made in the endeavour and provision for the protection of women.

The issue of violence against women is an issue that transcends all borders and religions. It does not discriminate between classes of people or their creed. Even economic status does not protect women from being assaulted, battered, abused and even killed. The status of women varies enormously from one part of the world to another, but nowhere do women enjoy equal status with men.

Violence against women takes many forms, and the forms vary with different cultures. But what is universal is that women are violated by their male counterparts. Violence against women is an age-old phenomenon. However, there has been a steep rise in exploitation, abuse and torture of women in Pakistan after Partition. Women have always been considered weak, vulnerable and easy to exploit. Violence has long been accepted as something that inevitably happens to women.

It is disheartening to note that the lives of hundreds of thousands of Pakistani women have been shattered in human rights catastrophes. Defenceless women have been brutally beaten up and raped. Scores of young women have been abducted, raped and murdered in the name of honour. These gross violations of so many civilian women have been committed with total impunity. The institution remains suspended. Law has become meaningless. Control authorities have become virtually defunct. As a result, there has been little prospect of any of the perpetrators being brought to justice. Alongside these appalling abuses, women are being abused and battered by their husbands, whom they love and respect. Women have also been prevented from exercising some of their fundamental rights including the rights to association, freedom of expression and employment.

Violence, in point of fact, is synonymous with crime. Cities, even villages, have become a nightmare for women as they find themselves at the receiving end. Every day brings some form of violence against women reported on the pages of various local newspapers. Women do not have security to life and liberty. She is a victim of violence, sexual harassment, rape and psychological torture all over the world.

Meanwhile, constitutional provisions, legislative measures and efforts towards empowerment of women in social, economic and political fields also hardly seem to have any appreciable impact on the upwards trend witnessed in crimes committed against women. It stands to reason that women are, and to varying extents, trapped within an interlocking web of law, social practice and ideology which subordinates them to men. Law has denied women legal means of action and reinforced repressive social practices. Furthermore, accusations of ‘immodest’ behaviour, sexual assault, domestic violence, rape and murder in the name of honour have been used by men to maintain the subjugation of women.

There is a high degree of skepticism among the poor because of the prolonged delay in getting justice in the present judicial system. It may take years. The huge backlog of cases helps the accuse at the cost of victims of rape, harassment and murder. These victims are simply not equipped, either economically or emotionally, to take on the role of prosecutors. The trauma of rape victims is particular poignant.

If the result, at the end of it all, is acquittal due to poor investigation, who can blame women for being wary of taking recourse to judicial remedy. For such genuine victims, justice is a mirage they can ill-afford to chase. Most women victims find themselves bogged down by many problems. Most are unaware of their rights. They are also afraid of the police and, most important, they have no money to go to court. The judicial system in Pakistan is a long drawn-out process and even then women do not know if by the end of it all, they will get justice.

To a great extent, women themselves are to be blamed, as they are primarily responsible for their lop-sided development and are the greatest hindrance in the protection of their rights’ status. Without an attitudinal change, an appropriate perception of their situation is unthinkable. But then, the multitude of daily experiences of discrimination and injustice, and of violence in sexual relationships, which cannot be explained by custom or cultural anachronisms alone, have made women all too aware of the need for fundamental change. The time is long overdue for women to be given their share of human dignity and opportunity.

Different sections of society, besides criminal networks, politicians and police, play a role in perpetuating the abuse of women and hence the problem should not be seen in isolation. There is an urgent need for support and encouragement to women at all levels.

It is very essential to educate and empower women, as they are the key contributors both in economic and domestic life. Literature with positive attitude to women and girls is very important. Text from Quranic verses needs to be interpreted and popularized by the scholars in a more positive way to support women. These must be incorporated into textbooks and the school curriculum. Girls must also be able to grow up to economic independence. The contribution of women and girls to the economy needs to be highlighted. Education that is meaningful, provides basic literacy, imparts skills and training in income generation, provides knowledge about reproductive health, allows the exercise of choices and options in planning and spacing a family and also provides protection from disease is the need of the day.

All said and done, it is imperative and absolutely crucial that women come forward to expose the persons who subjugate and exploit them. Instead of suffering in silence, victimized women need to take up their problems and deal with them head-on. It is time that they come out of their hiding behind culture, social systems and family restrictions and take up assertive roles for getting what they deserve justice.