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Violence against women in Pakistan, particularly intimate partner violence and sexual violence, is a major public health problem and a violation of women's human rights in Pakistan. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] Women in Pakistan mainly encounter violence by being forced into marriage , through workplace sexual harassment , domestic violence and by honour killings .
Domestic violence in Pakistan is an endemic social and public health problem. According to a study carried out in 2009 by Human Rights Watch, it is estimated that between 10 and 20% of women in Pakistan have suffered some form of abuse. [1] [2] Women have reported attacks ranging from physical to psychological and sexual abuse from intimate ...
In Pakistan, approximately 20-30% of women face some form of domestic abuse during their lifetime. [60] Marital rape is a common form of spousal abuse as it is not considered to be a crime under the Zina laws. [61] Many men and women in Pakistan are raised with the beliefs that "sex is a man's right in marriage". [61]
[3] [7] The law has been termed as divisive, in particular right-wing religious parties have rejected the women protection bill terming it 'un-Islamic'. A broad coalition of far-right political parties in Pakistan was created to oppose the bill, including Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan Islami Tehreek and Ahl al-Hadith. [8]
Divorce in Pakistan is regulated by the Dissolution of Muslim Marriage Act (1939, amended in 1961) and the Family Courts Act (1964). The Child Marriage Restraint Act or CMRA (1929) set the marrying age for women at 16; in the province of Sindh, as per the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act, it is 18.
The province of Punjab passed another women's bill which instituted further reforms. This is pending before the courts on grounds of unconstitutionality. [5] In 2016, Criminal Law (Amendment) (Offense of Rape) Act 2016 was passed by Pakistan's parliament which introduced harsher punishments for perpetrators of rape and honour killing. [6]
Human Rights Watch said in its report released in 2014 that "Violence against women and girls – including rape, honour killings, acid attacks, domestic violence, and forced marriage all remain serious problems in Pakistan. Despite high levels of domestic violence, the parliament has failed to enact laws to prevent it and protect women."
Violence against women in Pakistan, particularly intimate partner violence and sexual violence, is a major public health problem and a violation of women's human rights in Pakistan. [18] [19] Women in Pakistan mainly encounter violence by being forced into marriage, through workplace sexual harassment, domestic violence and by honour killings. [19]