International Women’s Day

March 8th declared as International Women’s Day, a day designated to celebrate the economic, social, and political achievements of women throughout the world.

The day is celebrated the world over including Pakistan vowing to strive for the protection of women rights and applaud women’s efforts and achievements in this regards.

9670 women killed in Punjab in last five years over different issues

Though the government of Pakistan has taken some steps to ameliorate the status of women and protect their rights, the physical and sexual violence, honour killings, forced marriages and structural inequalities galore in Pakistan.

A recent report by Human Rights Commission on the eve of Women’s day carries some horrific statistics about women rights violations through out Pakistan.

60% woman prisoners face charges under Hudood Ordinance

According to the report during last five years 9670 women were killed only in Punjab for honour killings and property issues.

Of these 1638 women were killed by immediate relatives including husbands, brothers, fathers and other close ones. About 8041 women were killed for property and settling other such issues. About 3379 women were killed for not bringing dowry with them, besides for asking their rights. They were either killed by setting them on fire or by acid throwing. While hundreds of women who are facing Karo kari, other such honour killings and infamous Hudood Ordinance charges in the jails of the country are still to be heard. The situation is the same through out Pakistan.

Presently about 60 % of woman prisoners in jails throughout Pakistan are charged under Hudood Ordinance, most of them are sexually assaulted and need justice.

Last year about 183 women were kidnapped and sexually assaulted and 177 were raped. This figure might be far higher than the reported as majority of the cases are not reported by victims due to cultural sensitivities and meddling of influential figures in Pakistan.

According to annual report of Human Rights Commission Pakistan, every hour a woman is killed under honor killing.

Though recently Pakistani women had struggled for passage of women protection bill from the assembly and they have succeeded to some extent however opposition from some religious quarters is creating hurdles in the way of its implementation.

PUSH (Press United to Serve Humanity) while celebrating Women’s Day demands the implementation of laws for protection of women rights, in letter and spirit.

In a statement issued here PUSH said that despite claims discrimination against women still continues to haunt the fairer sex.

PUSH Pakistan salutes women throughout the world and specially Pakistan for their struggle for attainment of their rights and demands the government to come up with practical measures for their protection instead of rhetoric.

- Asian Tribune -