Using data to fight abuse: Standardised indicators for violence against women launched

NCSW chairperson added that the data recorded as per these indicators can be compared across time and regions

ISLAMABAD:

In order to better document and comprehensively address the problem of violence against women, the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) on Friday launched a new set of standardised indicators.

The booklet “Standardised Indicators on Violence Against Women in Pakistan” was launched by the NCSW in Islamabad on Friday as part of the countering gender-based violence through research, data strengthening and standardisation project with the support of Aurat Foundation’s Gender Equity Programme and with funds from USAID.

“These indicators, that are essentially meant to be used by government’s statistical agencies as well as research-related organisations, are crucial in the long run as they will aid in generating reliable data on violence against women in Pakistan,” said NCSW chairperson Khawar Mumtaz, adding that current data focuses on selective aspects of violence.

She added that the data recorded as per these indicators can be compared across time and regions, within and outside Pakistan. Further, the National Institute of Population Studies will be using these indicators in a proposed survey on violence against women.

Gender expert Dr Yasmin Zaidi gave a presentation on the main categories over which the indicators have been divided including physical, sexual, economic, psychological violence, violence in the political arena and culturally-harmful practices.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12^th,  2015.