Crime or Custom? Violence Against Women in Pakistan,

Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch, USA, 1999. (International)

Chapters: Chapter 1 Summery, Chapter 2 Recommendations, Chapter 3 Background, Chapter 4 Pakistan's Obligations Under International Law, Chapter 5 The Scope of Violence Against Women, Chapter 6 The State Response to Violence Against Women, Chapter 7 The Response of the International Community, Chapter 8 Conclusion

Set in the backdrop of the 'infamous' Samia Sarwar case, where a woman seeking divorce was gunned down by her family in her lawyer's office, this report deals with the violence against women and highlights the government's lack of will to take action against the perpetrators. Countless women suffer from battery, rape, acid and stove burning as well as mutilation but rarely is action taken against the accused. In 215 cases of suspicious stove burnings in Lahore in 1997 in only 6 cases were suspects taken into custody. The report maps out the socio-political and historic background of Pakistan and investigates the government's response to the pervasive problem of violence against women in the country's two largest cities of Lahore and Karachi. In order to examine the state's response to violence within the home as well as in the society the researchers have interviewed government personnel as well as human rights activists and lawyers. Visits to laboratories, hospitals etc. have also been carried out. The report also traces the steps towards justice that are followed by a victim of violence and the problems faced therein including gathering of evidence, the response of police and the judicial system. It scans obligations under various international treaties that Pakistan has ratified so far and makes recommendations to the government, the UN, the international community and other international lending agencies. This report also takes into account the international response to the pervasive situation of violence against women. It concludes on the note that the pervasiveness points towards the government's lack of will and gender bias, thus there is dire need to take concrete measures for the reversal of government's attitude and policies.

Key words: Pakistan Government, International Community, Violence Against Women, State Laws, Police, Evidence, Sexual Assault. International Treaties.