Nearly 1,000 Pakistan women 'killed for honour'

The statistics highlight the growing scale of violence suffered by many women in Pakistan.


Afp March 22, 2012

ISLAMABAD: At least 943 Pakistani women and girls were murdered last year for allegedly defaming their family's honour, the country's leading human rights group said Thursday.

The statistics highlight the growing scale of violence suffered by many women in Pakistan.

Despite progress on better protecting women's rights, activists say the government needs to do more to prosecute murderers in cases largely dismissed by police as private, family affairs.

"At least 943 women were killed in the name of honour, of which 93 were minors," wrote the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in its annual report.

Seven Christian and two Hindu women were among the victims, it said.

The Commission reported 791 "honour killings" in 2010.

Around 595 of the women killed in 2011 were accused of having "illicit relations" and 219 of marrying without permission.

Some victims were raped or gang raped before being killed, the Commission said. Most of the women were killed by their brothers and husbands.

Only 20 of 943 killed were reported to have been provided medical aid before they died, the Commission wrote.

Despite the rising number of reported killings, activists have praised parliament for passing laws aimed at strengthening women's protection against abuses.

Rights groups say the government should do more to ensure that women subjected to violence, harassment and discrimination have effective access to justice.

Last year, a Belgian court sentenced four members of a Pakistani family to prison for the murder of their daughter, who defied them by living with a Belgian man and refused an arranged marriage.

COMMENTS (44)

Spud | 11 years ago | Reply

I read in comments here and other places of this newspaper where many bleat that US should be punished for drone attacks while no one mentions about punishing these Pakistani citizens who kill women on the grounds of bringing dishonour to the family. These same Pakistani citizens also point out that in India also women are killed as if this is an excuse for not punishing these murderers. Remember that lady whose husband threw acid in her face who later was acqitted and the lady committed suicide in Rome? The man roams freely in the streets of Pakistan. What a justice system?

ayesha_khan | 11 years ago | Reply

@fahad: What does your url prove? That there are bad people i India too? I don't think anyone is arguing that there are no bad people in India. The difference is the attitude of society when bad things come to light. Did the neighbours support the girl or the father when they found out?

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