Women’s rights: Deeds, not rhetoric

In Pakist­an, rape, other types of violen­ce agains­t women has become a silent war as no one dares to talk about...

ISLAMABAD: The blasphemy law must be repealed as it is misused by powerful clerics and politicians, demanded Chairperson National Commission on Status of Women (NCSW) Anis Haroon amid a lingering controversy over a Christian woman facing death sentence on blasphemy charges.

She was delivering a lecture on Structures of Violence: Defining the Intersections of Militarism and Violence against Women held here at the office of Aurat Foundation on Thursday.

The event was one of the main activities organised by the civil society to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women celebrated every year on November 25.

Haroon said according to one definition, militarism is an ideology that creates a culture of fear and supports the use of violence, aggression, or military interventions to settle disputes and to enforce economic and political interests.

“The definition of militarism is no more limited to war zones, but has entered households,” she maintained.

Haroon said militarism is creating a culture of fear in Pakistan’s social mindset and its root are spreading, making women and children  more vulnerable to its impact.

“Militarism is against women rights and is a clear violation of human rights,” she added.

Haroon said in conflict zones the body of women is considered the enemy’s territory.

She said in our country rape and all other type of violence’s against women has become a silent war as no one dares to talk about it.

“Women have always been the silent victims of war as in past they were taken as slaves and today the violence done to women during war is called collateral damage,” she said.

Quoting examples of other countries, she said in conflict zones where troops are stationed, women are being provided to comfort them and this begins the business of prostitution.

“This practice might be common in Pakistan too but no research has been done in this regard so far,” she said.

To strengthen women, the government should effectively implement all the bills for their rights, Haroon said.

She said the resolution - UN Security Counsel Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 - stressing the importance of women’s equal participation in all efforts  is still not implemented in the country.

“It is so unfortunate that in Pakistan majority of the bills meant for women rights are only discussed but not implemented,” she added.

She said the impact of militarism in Afghanistan on women can be seen through the increase in the number of suicide cases among them, which is more than male cases.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2010.