Creeping up: 5% increase in incidents of domestic violence
Activists say cases not given adequate coverage by media
Mahjabeen Qizalbash performs at the conference. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD IQBAL/EXPRESS
PESHAWAR:
In comparison to the previous year, incidents of domestic violence have increased by 5% in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The media has also not given enough coverage to the issue due to terror attacks and the local government elections.
This was said by activists at a conference titled ‘Auraton aur bachon par tashadud ke khilaf hum awaz tehreek’ at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday. The event was put together by Aurat Foundation (AF) in collaboration with Sungi Foundation and Strengthening Participatory Organisation. MPA Arif Yousaf was the chief guest on the occasion. He was flanked by singers Mahjabeen Qizalbash and Bakhtiar Khattak who sang traditional numbers towards the end of the conference. Actors performed stage dramas focusing on the themes of swara, child marriage and violence against women and children.
AF members said at least 287 incidents of domestic violence were reported in the province in the last eight months alone. The foundation’s resident director Shabina Ayaz said 142 women were murdered in the aforementioned period. “Thirty-seven of these women were killed by their husbands,” she said. “Other cases also include 32 incidents of rape, 30 of suicide, 20 of child marriages and 20 of attempted rape.” Ayaz said the highest number of cases was reported in the provincial capital followed by Mardan, Swat, Kohat and Mansehra. “Compared to the previous year, the incidents have seen a 5% rise which is alarming,” she added.
The AF resident director said almost all of the suicide cases were reported in Swat. Other speakers lambasted lawmakers for not enforcing stricter laws against domestic violence despite the fact that a draft had already been sketched out. “The movement aims to create awareness among the public to stop violence against women and children,” said National Commission on the Status of Women member Sadia Qasim Shah. She said Sindh and Punjab governments were taking the issue seriously while K-P still lagged behind.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 23rd, 2015.
In comparison to the previous year, incidents of domestic violence have increased by 5% in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The media has also not given enough coverage to the issue due to terror attacks and the local government elections.
This was said by activists at a conference titled ‘Auraton aur bachon par tashadud ke khilaf hum awaz tehreek’ at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday. The event was put together by Aurat Foundation (AF) in collaboration with Sungi Foundation and Strengthening Participatory Organisation. MPA Arif Yousaf was the chief guest on the occasion. He was flanked by singers Mahjabeen Qizalbash and Bakhtiar Khattak who sang traditional numbers towards the end of the conference. Actors performed stage dramas focusing on the themes of swara, child marriage and violence against women and children.
AF members said at least 287 incidents of domestic violence were reported in the province in the last eight months alone. The foundation’s resident director Shabina Ayaz said 142 women were murdered in the aforementioned period. “Thirty-seven of these women were killed by their husbands,” she said. “Other cases also include 32 incidents of rape, 30 of suicide, 20 of child marriages and 20 of attempted rape.” Ayaz said the highest number of cases was reported in the provincial capital followed by Mardan, Swat, Kohat and Mansehra. “Compared to the previous year, the incidents have seen a 5% rise which is alarming,” she added.
The AF resident director said almost all of the suicide cases were reported in Swat. Other speakers lambasted lawmakers for not enforcing stricter laws against domestic violence despite the fact that a draft had already been sketched out. “The movement aims to create awareness among the public to stop violence against women and children,” said National Commission on the Status of Women member Sadia Qasim Shah. She said Sindh and Punjab governments were taking the issue seriously while K-P still lagged behind.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 23rd, 2015.