KARACHI – There has been no let-up in gender-based violence in Sindh, reveals a six-month report compiled by the Aurat Foundation (AF) in collaboration with Irish NGO Trocaire.
PML-F MPA Marvi Rashdi, AF Karachi Resident Director Mahnaz Rahman, AF representatives Shireen Aijaz and Fareeda Tahir, and others formally launched the report titled ‘Policy and Data Monitor on Violence against Women’ based on the period between July and December 2010, at the Karachi Press Club on Monday.
Talking to the media, they said that gender-based violence was a major social problem all over the world.
“The consequences of this violence against women are long lasting as both rape and domestic violence, frequently accompanied by psychological abuse, are associated with a host of short- and long-term problems, including physical injury, illness, psychological symptoms and, in extreme cases, death, they said, adding, “Moreover, the consequences go far beyond the individual female victims, affecting their children, families, friends, and the society as well.”
The report states that during the six months, 712 cases of violence against women were reported in the province including 119 incidents of honour killing involving 137 victims, out of which 39 were men. Besides, 62 rape cases, 61 suicides, 159 attempts of murder, 103 abduction cases, 24 sexual assaults, 78 domestic violence cases, 34 incidents of custodial violence, murder attempts, customary practices, attempt to suicide, threat of violence, trafficking and torture were reported from different parts of the province during the same period.
Despite being banned by the Sindh High Court, 24 jirgas were held on women-related issues and eight women, including girls, were given as compensation to settle conflicts or freewill-marriage issues. At least eight cases were registered against jirga organisers and parents, while most of the accused denied conducting any jirgas or bailed before arrest.
Disclosing the use of weapons in such violence, the report states that the accused used different weapons and methods for killing or victimising women including gun, axe, hatchet, pesticide, rope, poison, knife, Kalashnikov, stick, kerosene oil and petrol.
Even the state did not stay behind in violence against women as 105 women and girls were arrested or tortured by the Sindh police and it is common practice that whenever the police fail to arrest any male criminals, they arrest the women of his family, for compelling him to surrender to the law enforcers. Besides getting directly involved in violence against women, the police also remained behind in not registering such cases. The FIRs of 341 cases were registered and even 323 cases brought on official records, whereas, in 51 incidents, the status of FIRs could not be ascertained whether they were registered or not, as some were lodged even after a week or month.
Honour killings or karo-kari claimed the lives of 62 women. At least 18 women were killed over getting married on freewill, three over enmity, 14 in domestic conflicts, four over theft and tribal conflicts, six over matrimonial disputes, three over money-related issues while in 9 cases, the motive could not be ascertained.
