Abuse in Mandi Bahauddin

Over 40 cases of abduction and sexual violence against women were reported in Punjab’s Mandi Bahauddin in just July. Let that sink in! Or perhaps we already have let it sink in, too well to even care what happens to the women of this country. So it appears. No number of incidents shake up our indifference anymore. Not their frequency, neither their ghastliness. It is almost as if we as a society have decided that this is the fate of our nation’s women, especially those who have no power or connections. Majority of the affected women in Mandi Bahauddin were between the ages of 10 and 18. The age bracket for those most affected ranged from 10 to 28 years.

As per a report released by the Sustainable Social Development Organization earlier this year, Punjab recorded a rise in violence against women cases in 2023, with Lahore and Faisalabad being the most affected districts. Up to 10,201 cases of violence against women were registered under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the PPC. This was a 14.5% increase from the 8,787 cases reported in 2022, the report says.

These statistics highlight the critical need for societal reform and enhanced protection for women. The state must implement stricter laws and guarantee swift justice for victims to dissuade potential perpetrators. Moreover, comprehensive educational programmes should be introduced to challenge and change societal attitudes towards women and marginalised genders. The focus must be on prevention through awareness, alongside stringent enforcement of laws to ensure justice and safety for all. No country can progress without shrugging off the archaic belief that women are inferior and undeserving of equal rights and opportunities. The sooner we understand this, the better.