16 days of activism against GBV: what’s next?

During the recently concluded 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence (GBV), all stakeholders agreed that it must stop now. The various manifestations of violence and abuse including the impact it has on lives of women and girls, their choices, the cost the nation has to bear and its effects on social cohesion and harmony were highlighted.

Ending GBV is a prerequisite for development. As long as women and girls continue to face violence, inequality and denial of their reproductive rights, socio-economic development will remain out of reach. When girls and women are trapped in the trajectory of restricted opportunities, limited education, child marriages, early and unplanned pregnancies, and poor health, there cannot be economic and social progress.

Covid-19 has rather been a catalyst. A recent report by the NCSW and UNFPA indicates that with the financial stress felt by men, mental and physical abuse of women and children increased during the pandemic. Same is echoed in surveys conducted by UN Women.

Successful conclusion of the campaign begs us to consider: what is next?

Solutions include a range of actions that can address GBV, especially if implemented in parallel.

Implementation of existing laws and policies was highlighted as a must in the short, medium, and long term. According to a recent gap analysis by UN Women on legislation related to ending violence against women, 73% of gap was identified either as lack of information or capacity to implement laws at federal and provincial levels. The remaining gap was related to procedural lacunas in the laws. According to the Population Situation Analysis (2020) by Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, supported by UNFPA, previous research on the ability of the law enforcement system shows that a severely deficient pre-trial phase is the main cause of weak prosecution of GBV cases.

The efforts of the Ministry of Law and Justice on strengthening law enforcement mechanisms for GBV prevention, protection and legal redress are worth mentioning, especially in light of the passing of the Anti-Rape Act (Investigation and Trial) 2021. The emerging role of civil society constituents and mainstream media in raising awareness on GBV is also key to enhancing the responsiveness of state actors and institutions.

Women’s economic empowerment was highlighted as a solution. In Pakistan, the women’s share in the labour force is 22% — one of the lowest in South Asia and the world. Women’s lack of participation not only incurs a 30% loss to the country’s productivity, it also increases their dependence on men which contributes to their vulnerability to violence. On the flip side, the GBV at the domestic and social levels and stereotypical roles contribute to women’s exclusion from the job market due to fears of stigma and harassment. Women’s active participation in the country’s labour market can be increased through pro-women policies addressing barriers to their meaningful employment.

The prevalence of GBV also contributes to disrupting the social fabric and vice versa. This disruption has its costs. Mental, physical and financial violence impacts women and girls in many ways. The violence they face adversely affects the peace and harmony in society and can lead to lower productivity and slower economic growth. No society can ever achieve social harmony and values of respect and justice until its women are afforded equal opportunities and rights. Engaging men and boys to reinforce positive social norms is imperative. A continuous and consistent engagement of men and boys in the GBV discourse was identified as a missing element and therefore will need immediate reinforcement.

Digital spaces are increasingly becoming smarter — but are they becoming safer? With the growing digital landscape, violence against women is further exacerbated in online spaces. According to UNFPA, 85% of women online globally have experienced violence. Many women and girls are facing non-consensual sharing of their images amidst an increase in digital violence. Survivors may suffer fear, depression and suicidal thoughts, just as they do with other forms of violence. Everywhere includes virtual too, as virtual is real.

Now is the time to stand beside women and girls in Pakistan and commit to taking a multipronged approach towards eliminating violence against them, in all forms. Let us do it. Together we can!

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2022.

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