Roadmap to implement law against domestic violence unveiled

The Sindh government has unveiled a roadmap to implement the Domestic Violence Act, 2013 revealing jarring statistics that warrant systemic change.

While speaking at the roadmap launch ceremony on Monday, AIG Khadim Rind spoke about the state of women's safety in Pakistan, saying that the world data about gender-based violence is alarming. About 97% of women in the world have experienced violence in some form.

In Pakistan, he said, about 6% of adult women are subjected to rape, whereas about 34% married women faced domestic violence. The situation in rural Sindh is even grave, he said, adding that implementation of the laws is lacking in the province. The launch ceremony was jointly organised by the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Pathfinder International.

The roadmap, developed with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), aims to strengthen implementation of the Domestic Violence Act passed in 2013.

The roadmap underscores the importance of collaboration among government bodies, civil society, and international partners to combat gender-based violence. Key initiatives include establishing one-stop protection centres, with the first model centre to be operational in Hyderabad soon.

SHRC Chairman Iqbal Detho stressed the need for better coordination among the provincial government departments involved in addressing domestic violence. The commission has adopted a Human Rights Policy in 2023 and is prioritising implementation of the roadmap, he added.

Detho said that Sindh government is establishing three centres of excellence in human rights education at three women universities in the province. These centres aim to enhance the scope and quality of human rights education, empowering women to take leadership roles in this critical field.