The safety of women and girls in Pakistan remains a significant concern as incidents of sexual assault and trafficking continue to rise. Despite efforts to address these issues, social stigma and a lack of confidence in the criminal justice system lead to underreporting, leaving many cases unaddressed.
Over the past three years, Pakistan’s Human Rights Ministry has recorded approximately 63,000 cases of violence against women. However, this figure likely underrepresents the true scale of the problem due to the pervasive underreporting. The National Commission of Human Rights (NCHR) highlights that around 80% of these cases involve domestic violence, and 47% pertain to marital rape. This alarming situation reflects deep-rooted societal and systemic challenges.
The 2024 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report by the U.S. State Department places Pakistan in the Tier 2 category, indicating that while the government does not fully meet the minimum standards of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), it is making significant efforts to comply. Despite these efforts, Pakistan remains a source, transit, and destination country for trafficking. The enforcement and prosecution of trafficking cases face substantial challenges. In 2023, the government investigated 18,461 trafficking cases, with 15,022 related to sex trafficking and 3,439 to forced labor. However, prosecutions were significantly lower, with only 6,178 cases prosecuted and a mere 10 convictions, highlighting inefficiencies and potential corruption within the system.
Local media and international organizations often describe the reported figures as just the “tip of the iceberg,” reflecting severe underreporting and the challenges in addressing gender-based violence. Human Rights Watch and other organizations have pointed out systemic issues and the lack of effective measures to protect women’s rights in Pakistan. The United Nations has also noted the country’s poor track record in preventing child and forced marriages, further complicating the landscape of women’s safety.
The situation for women and girls in Pakistan remains dire, with ongoing issues of violence and trafficking inadequately addressed by the authorities. More robust measures, better enforcement of existing laws, and societal changes are essential to improve the safety and rights of women in the country.
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