With the advancement in science and technology, especially digital technology, more and more women are pursuing higher education and making their mark both professionally and in business.
This has also created awareness among them about their rights and how to deal with domestic violence.
Unfortunately, this is only restricted to educated women while uneducated or less educated women, especially in rural areas, continue to be victims of domestic abuse and violence.
In this context, experts have called for creating more awareness and education in women regarding their fundamental rights to protect them from violence in any form.
The experts said many women were not even familiar with how to register a complaint when they suffer domestic violence at the hands of men.
Human rights activist Dr Farzana Bari said to educate women regarding their fundamental rights to protect them from physical violence was the need of the hour.
She said a strong factor of women's vulnerability to the current situation was illiteracy and the majority of the incidents were being reported from the uneducated community.
She stressed the relevant authorities to ensure "education for all" for a greater civilised Pakistan. She further emphasised that women's participation be ensured in all spheres of national affairs.
"There is a dire need to mobilise individuals through awareness workshops to stop this menace," she added.
Dr Bari also proposed dialogue among all stakeholders of the community, including police, politicians, and opinion makers in ensuring strong domestic violence legislation and holding community-based awareness workshops with experts on how to recognise or speak out against domestic violence.
Ministry of Human Rights Senior Official Muhammad Khawaja said they are evolving a comprehensive plan to check domestic violence and create awareness among women.
He said his ministry is in process of drafting a comprehensive bill to curb domestic violence. He quoted Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's example where the provincial government established a women complaint desk in police stations to report cases of crimes against women.
"Before the formation of the complaint desks women were reluctant to report to male police officers", he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 5th, 2021.
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