Harassment is caused by different dynamics in both countries and the laws and operational mechanisms to deal with.
LAHORE: This is apropos the article “No respect for women in India and Pakistan” (September 6) by Mahwash Badar. The issue is not as simple as explained in the article. Violence against women does not only arise from objectification of women. Women are also objectified in the West but Western countries frame gender-friendly laws that place the burden of disproving allegations of harassment on the accused. Furthermore, state institutions are gender-sensitised to respond sympathetically and effectively to complaints of sexual harassment.
Also, India and Pakistan cannot be grouped together as far as sexual harassment is concerned. Harassment is caused by different dynamics in both countries and the laws and operational mechanisms to deal with harassment are also different.
Sameera Rashid
Published in The Express Tribune, September 7th, 2013.
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