Moot calls for urgent action against GBV

Experts say lack of awareness, avenues for reporting behind issue

ISLAMABAD:

A high-level panel of speakers including policy makers, human rights activists and Supreme Court Judge Justice Ayesha A Malik on Tuesday made a powerful call to action, urging society and institutions to prioritise the issue of systemic shortcomings in addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases.

The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) organised a high-level seminar today to commemorate International Human Rights Day, under the theme "Linking Rights to a Future Free from GBV," while also celebrating the 16 Days of Activism against GBV.

Prime Minister's aide on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Romina Khurshid Alam, highlighted the critical need for educational reform to address GBV, especially in public schools. She also pointed out that stigma and societal discrimination continue to suppress women's voices and perpetuate violence.

Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights, Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, addressed the challenges in the implementation of existing laws, highlighting the gaps in data collection and public awareness regarding avenues for reporting violence. She called for reforms in the police and judicial systems to better support victims of GBV.

In her remarks, Justice Ayesha A Malik said, "GBV is violence against women because they are women." She emphasised the deep-seated imbalance between men and women that is entrenched in societal and cultural norms.

She called for societal outrage over the rise in sexual violence, particularly against minors and women. "The violation of a woman's dignity must not be tolerated," she said, adding that resistance to gathering accurate data hampers efforts to understand and address the crisis.

"Without data, there can be no comprehensive understanding of the problem, let alone a solution," she noted, lamenting that the current lack of clarity about domestic violence statistics complicates efforts to tackle this crime effectively.

Justice Malik criticised the judgmental attitudes faced by women in GBV cases, a problem deeply rooted in subcontinental culture where women are frequently accused of lying. This lack of a gender perspective weakens the narrative around GBV and perpetuates societal biases. She concluded by calling for GBV to be treated as a priority. "Let us focus on the real issues and ensure women are treated as equal citizens of society."

In his welcome remarks, Executive Director of SDPI, Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri, emphasised that sustainable development is incomplete without incorporating human rights and gender equity.