Human rights are very important for the development of a society. Unfortunately, male dominance has become a way of life, especially in underdeveloped countries like Pakistan. Lack of women’s rights is a significant problem. Women have to face a lot of issues including domestic violence, lack of health and education facilities which should be properly addressed and eradicated.
The World Economic Forum’s report Global Gender Gaps 2014 places Pakistan as the second lowest performing country in the world in terms of gender equality. This leads to violence against women including honour killing, child marriage, acid attack, and domestic and sexual abuse. In 2013, 56 women were murdered solely for giving birth to girls. In the same year almost 150 women were burnt in several burning incidents. In 2013 only in Punjab 2,576 rape cases were registered according to the statistics of the Punjab police. There are specific gender roles assumed for women and in case they fail to fulfill these self-made expectations people tend to use violence against them.
Cultural restrictions in some areas of Pakistan also make many activities such as having education in proper institutions, leaving house without a male companion, visiting the hospitals where there are men and travelling in public transport impossible for the women. In tribal areas of Pakistan education for girls is declared prohibited on religious grounds. This is a serious misconception about Islam, the dominant religion in Pakistan (95 percent), which gives equal importance to education of girls and boys.
Women rights issue requires to be addressed immediately. Workshops and awareness campaigns need to be conducted in backward areas to educate the women about their rights.
AYESHA NAWAZ
Islamabad