1. FRCE research report on Violence against Women
Circulated cum published by FRCE on 25th Nov 12
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
Introduction
Media reported cases of violence against women from 1st Jan 2012 to 23nd Nov 2012 in Pakistan
have increased by 7 per cent as compared to the year January to December 2011. The monitored
stories clearly revealed that younger and married women were more often a target of violence
against women in Sindh and Sindh was marked for second highest number of reported VAW
cases. Around 1913 cases of VAW occurred with married women, 1,615 occurred to women
who were unmarried, 38 victims were divorced and 71 were reported widows. FRCE gender
experts identifies below 18 years of age as most susceptible to violence. Around 59 per cent of
the victims were below 18 years of age, 31 per cent were 19-36 years old and 9 per cent were
over 36 years of age. The FIR has been registered for nearly 65 per cent of the reported cases of
violence against women. Despite extensive efforts to control honor killing incidents, 536 such
cases were reported in past ten months. The most reported crimes against women (24 per cent)
were kidnapping and abduction. Among total, 17 per cent reported cases were of murder.
Methodology
Secondary data reviewed in this study which was taken from Sindhi newspapers from January
2012 to November 2012
Findings
Forms of violence found in Sindh
The most common form of violence against women was found to be murder, with 153 killings
reported in the media. It was followed by abduction/ kidnapping (146), domestic violence (140),
honor killings (131), custodial violence (194), vani (102), suicide (59), rape/ gang rape (54),
2. attempt to commit suicide (36), threat to violence (35), sexual assault (33), attempted murder
(30), and burning (four).
Conclusion
FRCE point of view
During collecting data through electronic media, was observed by gender specialists of FRCE
that gender discrimination is not a Pakistan-specific issue, as gender issues are prevalent across
the world. However, in a country such as Pakistan that faces infrastructural problems and lacks
an effective justice system, the gender issues take a much more violent shape. Observed that
women suffer by an unfair division of power and resources. Be it education, health, access to
justice system, or economic empowerment, women face a discriminatory attitude and have
constantly been undermined, and observed that these factors, along with cultural practices lead to
frequent cases of violence against women.
References (1st Jan 2012 to 23nd Nov 2012)
Newspaper Email address
Dwan http://dawn.com/
Daily times www.dailytimes.com
Jang www.jang.com
Umat www.umat.com
NEWS www.news.com
dailyeonline (Sindhi: )عوامي آواز www.awamiawaz.com/
Hilal-e-Pakistan (Sindhi: هالل www.dailyhilal.com/
)پاڪستان
Ibrat (Sindhi: )عبرت www.dailyibrat.com/
Kawish (Sindhi: )ڪاوش www.dailykawish.com/