More than 7870 cases of violence against women were reported in 2007. This was stated by Zia Ahmed Awan, an advocate and president of Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid (LHRLA) while speaking at a seminar titled “Women’s voices and hidden pain”, organised by Madadgaar Helpline, with the collaboration of LHRLA along with UNICEF.

He said that these women had been subjected to regular abuse, mental and physical torture, assaults, some sexual in nature. The women described the violence and how they had been isolated and then persecuted when they cried for help and justice.

Zia said that violence was everywhere and those who speak about it in public do not really know what is the pain really like as they have never experienced it themselves. The media reports only a miniscule number of cases.

Several women victims were invited to tell their ordeal to help sensitise the media, the public, the judiciary and the politicians.

Dr Shahista Wahidi said that until the day when feudal system and inequality is eliminated from the Pakistani society, it is the duty of NGO’s and the media to highlight these issues, sensitize the public and to motivate the society into action.

She called for a more comprehensive law over domestic violence.

Ms Hashmi, who heads SOS Village, said that men are the one’s who are not getting the proper Islamic education and that is the reason why they do not respect women and indulge in such criminal practices. She suggested that the media cover these cases in a way that other people could gain vital knowledge about such happenings and draw lessons.
Source: The News
Date:3/9/2008