Domestic violence against women surges by 25%: Report

The Aurat Foundation report notes 10.88% decrease in rapes, gang rapes of women. 9.68% decrease in murder recorded.

ISLAMABAD: An increase of  25% in domestic violence against women was recorded in the year 2011 as compared to the previous year, a report by the Aurat Foundation found.

The foundation launched its fourth annual report, titled “Situation of Violence against Women in Pakistan," on Monday.

According to the report, a 6.57% decrease was also registered in cases related to abduction and kidnapping of women.

Similarly a 9.68% decrease was observed in incidents of murder of women and 10.88% decrease in incidents of rapes and gang rapes of women in 2011.

Women's rights activist and former member of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), Nasreen Azhar presented the findings of the report and said that violence against women has demonstrated a continuously increasing graph.

Former NCSW chairperson, Anis Haroon said that the current data also shows a rise in cases of violence against women.

Haroon said that in Pakistan, violence was more problematic and cruel than other countries as there is no system of addressing the issue and cases including those related to “honour” killings and land disputes are not properly reported.

She emphasised the need to change mindsets of the public for eradication of violence against women.