“The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.” John F. Kennedy
Last week, a bill for Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2020 was presented in the National Assembly, Islamabad by the Federal Human Rights Minister, ShireenMazari. The bill aimed to ‘establish an effective system of protection, relief, and rehabilitation of women, children, elders, and any vulnerable persons against domestic violence’. The bill declared that the act of domestic violence will be carrying a punishment of maximum three years and minimum six months imprisonment. A fine ranging from Rs 20,000/- to Rs 100,000/- would also be charged on the offender of domestic violence that would be paid as reimbursement to the affected person.
to provide prevention of domestic violence against women in order to protect women from sexual abuse, psychological abuse, economic abuse and stalking. Before this, we find the ‘long-awaited’ Protection of Women against Violence Bill 2016, which intended to criminalize all forms of violence against women, including domestic, emotional, psychological, economic, or sexual. The list goes on as new laws are announced every few years.
Domestic violence is prevailing in Pakistan at a very startling rate. Mostly, women fall victim to it and are tormented by corporeal, psychosomatic and sexual abuse in their home by either partners or in-laws and in some circumstances even by their own brothers and parents. Pakistan ranks sixth on the list of the world’s most dangerous countries for women, and despite proclamation of several laws which were aimed for women protection, violence against them has been on the rise. The reported reasons for domestic violence against women include women’s low literacy levels, low liberation, very little opportunities to indulge in political activities as well as erroneous understandings of religious, traditional and cultural rules in the society especially in regards to the dowry system. Women’s suppressed independence and the perpetrator’saddiction to alcohol also contribute to the act of domestic violence.
Acts have been passed in history and will continue to pass in future, but when will they make a difference? Law can only be fruitful if implemented in an unprejudiced manner. Zohra Yusuf, theformer chairwoman of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, said, “The change in law would only make a difference if there is effective enforcement and the legislature continues to engage with the issue and ensures oversight.” Many domestic violence laws end up hurting victims because they aren’t properly and actively enforced. Several bills have been passed in Pakistan along with many rallies and protests demanding women rights;however, the execution of these acts has been disappointingly rare. Instead of developing a new law, the implementation of the previous one would be a step in the right direction. Otherwise, the recent bill proposed by ShireenMazari would be yet another example of how the country’s justice system has done little to end violence against women in Pakistan.
Domestic violence against women needs to be identified by the government as a significant issue. Improved educational and health facilities are needed to prevent and control violence with mutual awareness programs that include non-governmental organizations. Furthermore, addressing the roots of domestic violence, comprehensive steps need to be taken against the abuse of the dowry system. Providing equal educational opportunities for women is required in low income countries like Pakistan so that they are, at the very least, aware of their rights.
Women protesting for their rights
Farzana Bari, a prominent women’s rights activist believed that patriarchal attitudes, predominant in Pakistani society are responsible for the crimes against women and this mindset could be ended “by educating women in rural areas, empowering them economically and raising their representation in the legislature.“She also raised her concerns regarding the fact that women constituted more than 45% of the population but do not get the same representation as men in the economy, employment and the government.
However, the government alone cannot be blamed for all evils and cannot be expected to change the ways of the whole society overnight. The entire society has to come forward to bring the change. Laws are made by the government but in order for them to be effective, they have to be abided by every individual. We, as a nation, need to open our minds to the possibility of a peaceful and violence-free zone by recognizing and respecting others’ rights. We need to play our role in educating ourselves and others about right and wrong. We need to raise strong men who are not afraid to respect women and are ready to accept them as partners in building a society where we live in peace.
