Every voice counts: Role of activists and legislation explored
Panellists emphasise awareness, political will for viable results.
According to Moderator Andrea Fleshenberg an alarming 77 per cent of Pakistanis view domestic violence acceptable and define it as a private matter. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Social documentaries with an ideological commitment have the power to stir reactions in a manner that can encourage positive legislation and activism.
Speakers at a panel discussion as part of the German foundation, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung’s ongoing Movielog, were unanimously opined that the effectiveness of these films lies in their ethical framework and clarity of objective.
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Saving Face, which earned her an Oscar in 2012, was met with sundry reactions within Pakistan, including rising skepticism about her intended audience and motive. Part of this resentment rises from a ban on the screening of the film within Pakistan due to the threat of a lawsuit from its protagonists.
Acid Survivors Foundation Chairperson Valerie Khan sees the film as solution-centric, as the release of Saving Face coincided with the passing of the Acid and Burns Crime bill in 2012. Khan argued that the intent of the film was to “show good practice” and encourage a shift in developmental relationships and exchange - i.e. encourage donors and philanthropists.
The conviction rate for acid crimes has grown from six per cent to 18 per cent between 2008 and 2013, a small success in the face of daunting challenges, the weightiest of which, is the Qisas (retribution) and Diyat (compensation) Ordinance.
“Crimes against women are compoundable,” said Nasreen Azhar, member of the National Commission on the Status of Women. Patriarchal pressures and fear of the accused party keep a large number of cases out of the courts. Most female victims accept compensation out of vulnerability and a lot of times, poverty.
“There is a general lack of awareness about laws passed at the local level,” she added, stressing on the need for improvement within the current legal framework, where district policemen and lawyers demonstrated a reluctance to provide justice as a result of patriarchal mindsets and a lack of knowledge about new laws.
Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) Centre of Excellence in Gender Studies Director Farzana Bari said that while awareness about women’s issues has grown, the failure of rights activists lies in their inability to mobilise together.
“We have failed make connections between social movements,” she said, explaining that with aspects of violence on the rise, the reach and mobility of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) was limited, leaving a majority of far-flung areas alienated, and ripe with problems.
“The relation of the state towards its women citizen is a key one,” said Bari, who believes that only then can the misogynistic attitudes of society be changed.
According to Moderator Andrea Fleshenberg - guest professor at QAU under the aegis of DAAD, a German Academic Exchange service- an alarming 77 per cent of Pakistanis view domestic violence acceptable and define it as a private matter.
Female parliamentarians have championed seven pro-women legislations during the tenure of the last government, partly because of pressure from women’s activists and party for personal gain, though a bill on domestic violence remains pending.
“We need to include these issues in our curriculums,” Maliha Hussain, Gender expert at the Mehergarh Center for Learning. She added that some of the responsibility lies within the individual, to learn about new laws that are passed.
According to Hussain, 50 cases of sexual harassment were reported in the last three years.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 19th, 2013.
Social documentaries with an ideological commitment have the power to stir reactions in a manner that can encourage positive legislation and activism.
Speakers at a panel discussion as part of the German foundation, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung’s ongoing Movielog, were unanimously opined that the effectiveness of these films lies in their ethical framework and clarity of objective.
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Saving Face, which earned her an Oscar in 2012, was met with sundry reactions within Pakistan, including rising skepticism about her intended audience and motive. Part of this resentment rises from a ban on the screening of the film within Pakistan due to the threat of a lawsuit from its protagonists.
Acid Survivors Foundation Chairperson Valerie Khan sees the film as solution-centric, as the release of Saving Face coincided with the passing of the Acid and Burns Crime bill in 2012. Khan argued that the intent of the film was to “show good practice” and encourage a shift in developmental relationships and exchange - i.e. encourage donors and philanthropists.
The conviction rate for acid crimes has grown from six per cent to 18 per cent between 2008 and 2013, a small success in the face of daunting challenges, the weightiest of which, is the Qisas (retribution) and Diyat (compensation) Ordinance.
“Crimes against women are compoundable,” said Nasreen Azhar, member of the National Commission on the Status of Women. Patriarchal pressures and fear of the accused party keep a large number of cases out of the courts. Most female victims accept compensation out of vulnerability and a lot of times, poverty.
“There is a general lack of awareness about laws passed at the local level,” she added, stressing on the need for improvement within the current legal framework, where district policemen and lawyers demonstrated a reluctance to provide justice as a result of patriarchal mindsets and a lack of knowledge about new laws.
Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) Centre of Excellence in Gender Studies Director Farzana Bari said that while awareness about women’s issues has grown, the failure of rights activists lies in their inability to mobilise together.
“We have failed make connections between social movements,” she said, explaining that with aspects of violence on the rise, the reach and mobility of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) was limited, leaving a majority of far-flung areas alienated, and ripe with problems.
“The relation of the state towards its women citizen is a key one,” said Bari, who believes that only then can the misogynistic attitudes of society be changed.
According to Moderator Andrea Fleshenberg - guest professor at QAU under the aegis of DAAD, a German Academic Exchange service- an alarming 77 per cent of Pakistanis view domestic violence acceptable and define it as a private matter.
Female parliamentarians have championed seven pro-women legislations during the tenure of the last government, partly because of pressure from women’s activists and party for personal gain, though a bill on domestic violence remains pending.
“We need to include these issues in our curriculums,” Maliha Hussain, Gender expert at the Mehergarh Center for Learning. She added that some of the responsibility lies within the individual, to learn about new laws that are passed.
According to Hussain, 50 cases of sexual harassment were reported in the last three years.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 19th, 2013.