Symposium held to mark Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women. PHOTO: FILE
Fifty-six women have been killed in Pakistan this year for giving birth to a girl rather than a boy, human rights activist IA Rehman said at a symposium here on Monday.
“A country where mothers are killed for giving birth to baby girls can’t be called an ethical society,” Rehman said at the symposium, titled ‘Youth emerging as a force for positive change’, meant to mark the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women. The event was arranged by the All Pakistan Women’s Association (APWA).
From January 2012 to September 2013, there were also 90 acid attacks on women, 72 cases of burning caused by other means, 491 cases of domestic violence, 344 cases of gang rape and 835 cases of violence, he said. “Young girls are being raped in Pakistan and all we do is shout rather that do anything practical,” he said.
Rehman said that giving girls and boys equal access to education and introducing a uniform education system for the rich and the poor would bring about positive changes in Pakistan. “It has taken us 62 years to say that education is a basic right,” he said.
Supreme Court Advocate Shamsa Ali said a third of seats in local government should be reserved for women. This would make local bodies a nursery for young female politicians, she said.
She added that there should be a zero tolerance policy towards violence against women. She said that Pakistan had ratified the UN Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, but had not fully implemented it.
MPA Hina Pervez Butt, who was one of the chief guests, said that the Punjab Assembly would soon pass the Punjab Protection of Family Members from Violence Bill. “The bill is a welcome indication of the Government of Punjab’s commitment to supporting women in distress and to addressing issues of violence,” she said.
Butt said that the PML N leadership had encouraged young people like her to come forward and work for the betterment of society.
Minister for Population and Family Welfare Begum Zakia Shahnawaz said that the high population growth rate was also one of the causes of violence against women.
APWA Chairwoman Ruhi Sayid said that the association had taken many initiatives to help victims of violence.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 26th, 2013.
COMMENTS (25)
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@Naeem: You don't even understand the "feminist agenda" and you're rambling on with nonsense. But since you took it there, if you'd like to do a compare and contrast between how many women die at the hands of men and how many men die at the hands of women (globally as well as within Pakistan), please tell me. I'd love to inform you. Cheers.
@Jim Bo: Way to put the blame on women thereby absolving men of any blame. Men are just as responsible if not MORE. Re-read the article. WOMEN who didn't have boys were killed. Or let me guess, were the men involved just innocent little bottle fed babies who got whipped up in the misogyny imposed upon them by evil women folk?
@amy w: On the contrary, it is quite the opposite. Men die in their thousands, nothing. A few women murdered, and all men are to blame, even those who love and respect their wives. Because according to the feminist agenda, not a single male is innocent, not even the male babies.
There are so many things wrong with this that I don't know where to start. Don't this geniuses realize that if they kill women and girls there is going to be no one to provide them with a son. Since men determine the sex of the baby they have no one to blame but themselves for not having a son. Maybe the government should consider teaching biology to their citizens. Also if they keep killing women and girls there is going to be no one for their sons to marry to continue the family name. Also violence increases when the male population gets to big. Having an over abundance of males is a loose-loose situation.
@Naeem: I don't see how that follows. Being upset about women being murdered does not mean that someone feels that men dying is alright. You are just using a ridiculous offense as a defense.
Shouldn't it be the man because it is his sperm that decides the gender of the baby?
@Moiz Omar: I second that
Do these brainless men not realise that it is the male who determines the sex of the baby, not the female.
Common Sense - After countless centuries of in-breeding it is difficult to know what chromosomes or genes are being passed around.
@Naeem: seriously? What a stupid comment.
Why does the article talk about human rights and that "the women were killed" when they were murdered? I cannot begin to understand such violent and barbaric behavior for something that is beyond the control of the woman giving birth. I dare not even think of what happened to the infants.
Tahira, I think the mother would rather die than let her husband take the baby girl away from her x
Please do not kill the baby or the mother. Give the precious baby girl to Edhi Center and keep your wife for the sake of existing boys. Preferably the man should go for vasectomy since he does not deserve the blessing of children. Many childless couples from USA have adopted babies, girls and boys, from Edhi Center and those children are being brought up with love, given a good education and have a good stable life with the adoptive parents.
it is the woman who glorifies (dhum-dhamka) the marriage with its dowry, that has created such a dislike for a girl. Watch Pakistani dramas depicting the prevailing situation, as a testimony to what has continued inspite of Islam giving freedom to the female. Not having a girl in Hinduism is more acceptable, than in Islam. Then why is having a girl such a social taboo.This by no means a girl should be harmed. Feminists: concentrate on intelligence, not infatuations
As per scriptures ( of any religion or community ) , hatya ( murder ) is a sin , stree hatya ( killing a woman ) is a bigger sin . So imagine how big a sin it is to kill a new mum ( or a pregnant woman ) .
@Moiz Omar: I agree
Awesome Piece!
What about those thousands of men across the country, who get killed trying to provide for the women and children? Oh that's right, they are disposable according to your feminist agenda.
This is terrible. Whether it is male or female, a baby is a true gift.
Two separate issues here. Violence against women is a legitimate universal issue that has frankly many causes illiteracy and cowardice being just two of several.
Then killing women because they gave birth to a girl is rooted in pure ignorance that even many so called educated are oblivious of. The SEX of a baby is Determined by the MALE and not the female. She simply is a glorified incubator. So killing her and choosing another does not increase the odds any more.
There needs to be a sustained campaign to inform the enlightened of Pakistan and countries like Pakistan.
In Pakistan, do women carry the XY chromosome?
@gp65: violence in general should be unacceptable.
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