Pakistan reported highest incidence of violence against women during peak of pandemic in 2020: Report

In a recent report, an Islamabad-based women’s rights organization has said that during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic between January and December last year, when people were forced to stay inside their homes, Pakistan reported 2,297 cases of violence against women from 25 districts across the country.

The report titled “Violence against women and girls in the time of COVID 19 pandemic” is prepared by the Aurat Foundation in collaboration with a non-governmental organization, under the project Jazba-Democracy and Empowered Women.

The research is based on a review of data on the incidents of violence against women collected from various newspapers in Pakistan, which was verified by local police in 25 selected districts.

Aside from this, the data includes an analysis of 14 case studies of violence against women and the analysis of multiple interviews from government officials in Provincial Commissions.

As per the findings of the report, a total of 57 per cent were reported from Punjab, 27 per cent from Sindh, 8 per cent from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 6 per cent from Gilgit Baltistan (illegally occupied), and 2 per cent from Balochistan.

Out of the total incidents of violence, Punjab reported the highest number of murder, rape, suicide, acid burning, kidnapping, domestic violence and forced marriage. Meanwhile, Sindh had the most number of honour killing.

According to a 2020 report, at least 11 rape incidents are reported in Pakistan every day, with over 22,000 cases filed across the country in the last six years.

As many as 22,037 cases of sexual abuse have been registered since 2015, of which 4,060 cases are pending in the courts.