KARACHI:
Between 2017 to 2021, as many as 21,900 women were raped in Pakistan. In 2022 alone, more than 2,000 cases of rape were reported of which 1,301 cases of rape were heard in 44 courts in the country. Unfortunately, these figures are just the tip of the iceberg because many cases go unreported due to societal stigma, poor access to legal support, etc. In 2020, United Nations Development Programme ranked Pakistan among the top countries with anti-women bias in courts.
In the past, many criminals have faced little to no repercussions for their actions due to weak prosecution and conviction. This has emboldened the perpetrators enabling them to commit different forms of crimes against women regularly. Catcalling women in public areas has become a norm. A few days ago, I was strolling in my street when a man on his motorcycle blocked my way and forced me to go with him. Despite being panic-stricken, I raised my voice and told the man to leave, or I would gather people around. Although the man left immediately, the incident left me feeling extremely anxious and frustrated. Many women face this form of harassment daily.
Even one-off incidents of sexual harassment and violence haunt women for the rest of their lives. They may appear normal; however, they feel tense and nervous in public spaces. At times, hearing stories of other women facing similar forms of harassment can trigger traumatic memories. Women should not have to live in constant fear and should be protected by the law. Our law enforcement agencies and courts must follow the due procedure to convict criminals and give up on their anti-women biases. Catcalling and different degrees of harassment should be declared an offence under the law and the culprits should be punished.
Anika Asim
Lahor
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2023.
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