Domestic Violence on Women 2019

PROJECT TOPIC:
“Domestic Violence on Women”

SUBMITTED BY:
Fatima Tuz Zahara. ( 2018-B.BHS-014 )
Mahnoor Khurshid. ( 2018-B.BHS-028 )
Zunaira Rafique. ( 2018-B.BHS-050 )
Afifa Rashid. ( 2018-B.BHS-002 )
Kinza Kiani. ( 2018-B.BHS-025 )
SUBMITTED TO:

Ms. Aleena Mukarram.

DEPARTMENT:

Behavioral Sciences.

SUBJECT:

Introduction to presentation skills for professionals.

DATE:

November 21,2019.

Fatima Jinnah Women University, The Mall , Rawalpindi.

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 Domestic Violence on Women 2019

Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION: .....................................................................................................5

1. BACKGROUND: ...................................................................................................5

2. SIGNIFICANCE: ...................................................................................................6

3. OBJECTIVES: .......................................................................................................6

2 LITERATURE REVIEW: ............................................................................................7

3 FINDINGS: ................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

1. SOME RECENT CASES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HAPPENED IN PAKISTAN ..............7

4 TYPES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: .............................................................................9

5 CAUSES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: ........................................................................10

6 EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: .......................................................................11

7 STATISTICS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN PAKISTAN; ..............................................12

8 REMEDIES ............................................................................................................14

9 COUNSELLING .....................................................................................................17

10 CONCLUSION: ...................................................................................................18

11 RECOMMENDATIONS: .......................................................................................20

12 REFERENCE: .....................................................................................................22

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 Domestic Violence on Women 2019

Domestic Violence on
Women

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 Domestic Violence on Women 2019

ABSTRACT
Abstract Violence against Women is a major threat in Pakistan. Unfortunately,
despite remarkable achievements in the field of women’s development and bearing
a magnanimous history of women’s movement, incidences of violence against
women are still burning issues. It is not easy to guess whether violence against
women has decreased or increased over the past decades because of lack of reliable
base-line survey, but in absolute term, the number of incidences is on the increase.
The majority of women are domestically violated by their husbands, in-laws and
other family members. From the study, we have tried to make a sense about the
types, reasons, and domestic violence against women in Pakistan, collecting data
and analysis from different sources. Domestic violence affects the lives of many
women both in the urban and the rural areas. Domestic violence takes many forms
and occurs in all settings, within the household, and in almost all cases, perpetrated
by the patriarchal order. This study aims to find out the impact of violence in our
society and the journey from victim to survival.

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CHAPTER 1
1 INTRODUCTION:
Domestic violence also known as domestic abuse or family violence is defined as:

‘A pattern of abusive behavior in a relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain
control over another intimate partner’.

One of the most frequent human rights violations in the world is violence against women. There
is a large amount of evidence that women are subjected to domestic violence significantly more
often than men. The situation can become worse if she is economically or socially dependent on
the abuser, which is the case in most situations. Violence against women should not only be
considered a human rights violation, but also a form of discrimination against women.

There are many cases of domestic violence publishing on newspapers every day and mostly
women are victims. Domestic violence was and probably still considered as family affairs which
has nothing to do with law and rights. People mostly are not willing to report to local authority or
provide consultant since they think it is their family problem. In fact, it is a crime.

According to a report every nine seconds, a woman is a victim of domestic violence while more
than three women are murdered by their partners daily. Most people do not realize how
prominent domestic violence is in our society today.

“No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you. We are
victims of evil customs. It is a crime against humanity that our women are shut within the four
walls of the houses as prisoners… There is no sanction anywhere for the deplorable condition
in which our women have to live.”

– Muhammad Ali Jinnah

1. BACKGROUND:
Domestic violence is an endemic social problem in Pakistan. An estimated 5000 women are
killed per year from domestic violence, with thousands of others maimed or disabled. According
to a study carried out in 2009 by Human Rights Watch, it is estimated that between 70 and 90
percent of women in Pakistan have suffered some form of abuse. The majority of victims of
violence have no legal recourse. Law enforcement authorities do not view domestic violence as a
crime and usually refuse to register any cases brought to them. Given the very few women's
shelters in the country, victims have limited ability to escape from violent situations.

The following acts are a common phenomenon in our society:

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Acid throwing, dowry death, honor killing, foot binding, forced abortion, forced marriage, forced
pregnancy, murder of pregnant women , sexual assault.

2. SIGNIFICANCE:
Violence against women is a manifestation of unequal power relation between male and female
leading to discrimination against women by men and to the prevention of the full-advancement
of women. Violence against women is a global issue. Women are neglected, trapped within
cultural framework, molded by dogmatic thoughts of the patriarchal system. As a result, violence
against women is viewed as a normal phenomenon in the light of male attitudes. Still now,
women, in Pakistan, suffer from violence, domestic violence, rape, dowry death, sexual
harassment, suicide, forced marriage, trafficking and other psychological problems. Violence
against women has become one of the most visible social issues in the 21st century. Domestic
violence against women, especially wives beaten by husbands, is a daily affair in any male
dominated society. Domestic reports published in newspapers show that violence against women
has increased at an alarm rate

3. OBJECTIVES:
Our study aims to achieve following objectives:

 The different types of domestic violence mainly in Pakistan.

 Major causes of domestic violence in Pakistan.
 Effects of domestic violence on women and society.
 History and statistics of domestic violence in Pakistan.
 Case studies.
 Remedies and help lines available for victims of domestic violence
 Suggestions/recommendations.
 Conclusion.

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CHAPTER 2
2 LITERATURE REVIEW:
According to a study carried out in 2009 by Human Rights Watch, it is estimated that between 20
and 30 percent of women in Pakistan have suffered of abuse. An estimated 5000 women are
killed per year from domestic violence, with thousands of others maimed or disabled. The lack of
laws is leading to scary rise in domestic violence in some of Pakistan provinces. According to
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) report state of human rights in 2015, 279 cases
of domestic violence were recorded.

However, HRCP recorded almost 3000 cases of violence against women and girls in 2016. These
instance included murder, rape, domestic violence and kidnappings.

Similarly, the Thomson Reuters Foundation has in the past named Pakistan third on the list of
almost dangerous countries for women in world. Shabeena Ayaz, resident director of Aurat
Foundation, an organization working for the rights of women in the country, says cases of
domestic violence are rising at an alarming rate especially in KPK, province of Pakistan. She
says there is no law to control the horrific crime against women in the province.

Sexual and Reproductive health of young people in Asia and the pacific, a united Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA) released in 2016, revealed that more than 30 percent of girls aged 15-
19 had experienced physical or sexual violence in the country.

1. SOME RECENT CASES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HAPPENED IN

PAKISTAN
 Fakhra Yunus:

Fakhra Yunus In 1998, Yunus was an 18 year old resident of Napier Road’s Bulbul Bazar,
Karachi’s red light district, when she met the MPA Bilal Khar. They both got married after a six
month relationship. This was Bilal’s third marriage, while Yunus had a three year old son from
an earlier liaison. Shortly after the marriage, she faced both physical and mental abuse by Khar,
which lasted for three years before she eventually escaped and moved in with her mother. Acid
was poured over her on May 14, 2000, as her five year old son watched. She had been
undergoing treatment for acid scarred tissue, including multiple corrective surgeries in Rome. On
March 17, she leapt off from the sixth floor of a building

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 Sonia

Another case of domestic violence was reported on (April 3, 2019) as housewife Sonia came
forward narrating her plight at Lahore’s Green Town Police Station. According to the registered
First Information Report (FIR), the victim has experienced mental and physical torture at the
hands of her husband who, she stated, would batter her in a locked room and repeatedly poke her
eyes with his fingers. She further alleged that she has also been a frequent receipt of death threats
made by him.

“If we are to fight discrimination and injustice against women we must start from the home
for if a women cannot be safe in her own house then she cannot be expected to feel safe
anywhere”

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CHAPTER 3
3 TYPES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:
When most people think of domestic violence, they imagine a situation where the abusive
partner physically hurts the victim. However, physical harm is only one form of abuse and there
are various other types of domestic violence including;

 Physical Assault:
 Sexual Abuse
 Emotional Abuse & Intimidation
 Isolation
 Verbal Abuse: Coercion, Threats, & Blame
 Economic Abuse
 Use of children

 Physical assault:
Physical assault is the use of physical force against another person in a way that ends up injuring
the person. Physical abuse ranges from physical restraint to murder. When someone talks of
domestic violence, they are often referring to physical assault. Physical assault can be:

 Hitting, kicking, biting, slapping, shaking, pushing, pulling, punching, choking, beating,
scratching, pinching, pulling hair, stabbing, shooting, drowning, burning, hitting with an
object, threatening with a weapon.

 Withholding of physical needs including interruption of sleep or meals, denying money,

food, transportation, or help if sick or injured, locking victim into or out of the house..

 Forcible physical restraint against their will, being trapped in a room or having the exit
blocked, being held down.

 The abuser hitting or kicking walls, doors, or other inanimate objects during an argument,
throwing things in anger, destruction of property.

 Verbal Abuse:
Verbal abuse is any abusive language used to denigrate, embarrass or threaten the victim. This
may include but is not limited to:

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 Threatening to hurt or kill the victim or her children, family, pets, property or reputation.

 Name calling (‘ugly’, ‘bitch’, ‘whore’, or ‘stupid’)

 Telling victim she is unattractive or undesirable.

 Yelling, screaming, rampaging, terrorizing or refusing to talk

 Emotional abuse:
Emotional abuse involves undermining an individual’s sense of self-worth. This may include but
is not limited to:

 Insulting or criticizing to undermine the victim’s self-confidence.

 Threatening or accusing, either directly or indirectly, with intention to cause emotional or

physical harm or loss. For instance, threatening to kill the victim or themself, or both.

 Using reality distorting statements or behaviors that create confusion and insecurity in the
victim like saying one thing and doing another, stating untrue facts as truth.

 Consistently disregarding, ignoring, or neglecting the victim’s requests and needs.

 Using actions, statements or gestures that attack the victim’s self-esteem and self-worth
with the intention to humiliate.

 Forcing the victim to take drugs or alcohol.

4 CAUSES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:

Domestic violence is a global problem that crosses cultural, geographic, religious, social and
economic boundaries and is a violation of human rights. Violence against women deprives
women of their right to fully take part in social and economic life.

 Learned behavior:
Domestic violence is behavior learned through observation and reinforcement. Like other forms
of aggression, domestic violence is not caused by genetics or illness. People are not born
perpetrators and for the most part there is no disease or illness that turns a non-abusive person
into an abuser. Domestic violence is a behavior acquired over time through multiple observations
and interactions with individuals and institutions. For example, the male child witnessing the

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abuse of his mother by his father is the strongest risk factor for transmitting domestic violence
from one generation to the next.

 To maintain male dominance:

Men are socialized to take control and to use physical force when necessary to maintain
dominance. Male violence against women in intimate relationships is a social problem condoned
and supported by the customs and traditions of a particular society. Men use force to show power
and control over the women.

 Violence due to alcohol and drugs:

Alcohol and other drugs such as marijuana, depressants, anti-depressants, or anti-anxiety drugs
sometimes cause individuals to become violent.

Two-thirds of victims of spousal abuse report that the perpetrator had been drinking at the time
of the incident(s).

 Violence due to anger and stress:

Some people think that anger or stress causes domestic violence, or that batterers simply “lose
control of their temper”. Battering is not about a loss of control, but rather about the exertion of
power and control. Batterers are no angrier or more stressed than the rest of us—these are just
more excuses and justifications for the abusive behavior. Batterers who are stressed or angry at
work do not attack their bosses or co-workers. All of us experience stress and anger, but do not
take it out on those around us with violence. Batterer attacks their spouse because they are the
weak target and they have the authority over them.

 Dowry abuse:
Dowry-related violence often arises when the groom or his family seeks continued payments or
more goods and the bride’s family is unable or unwilling to pay.

Dowry-related violence is most prevalent in South Asia, in the nations of India, Pakistan, Sri
Lanka and Bangladesh. The most common forms of dowry-related violence are physical
violence, marital rape, acid attacks, and wife burning.

5 EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:

Domestic violence survivors can face ongoing and challenging effects after enduring physical,
mental, and emotional abuse. It can take time for a survivor to adjust to living in a safe
environment, especially if a perpetrator was severely violent and/or committed the actions over

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an extended period of time. Following are the effects of domestic violence. It not only affects the
victim but the entire society gets affected by it.

Common mental effects of domestic violence on victim:

 Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety,
and uncontrollable thoughts
 Depression, including prolonged sadness
 Anxiety
 Low self-esteem and questioning sense of self
 Suicidal thoughts or attempts. If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal.
 Alcohol and drug abuse

Effects on the family:

 Violence and the threat of violence at home creates fear and can destroy family
environments and lead to the break-up of families
 Frequent moving to avoid the abuser
 Regular household conflict
 Child protection or police involvement

Effects on children:
 Children are at an increased risk for emotional behavioral problems regardless if they
were directly abused or not. The effects include:
 Anxiety and depression
 Eating and sleeping disturbances
 Low self-esteem
 Self-harm
 Aggression
 Difficulty concentrating
 Have trouble forming positive relationships
 Academic problems

6 STATISTICS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN PAKISTAN;

Domestic violence occurs across the world, in various cultures, and affects people across society,
at all levels of economic status. Pakistani activists estimated that there are 1000 of domestic
violence cases have been reported every year.

RATIO OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN PAKISTAN:

 90% of women in Pakistan face domestic violence.

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 35% of the women of Pakistan facing physical abuse.

 60% of the women face depression due to domestic violence.
Between 150 and 400 cases of acid attacks are reported in Pakistan every year. As many as 80%
of the victims are women, and almost 70 % are below 18. There are number of domestic violence
cases against women as reported by Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.
 Sexual violence 2004-2016: 4734 cases
 Honor crimes (women) 2004-2016: 15222 cases.
 Domestic violence against women 2004-2016: 1843 cases.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES OF PAKISTAN

Pakistani women living in rural areas are particularly vulnerable to violence because of their
relatively weaker social position and lack of awareness about their legal rights. Domestic
violence in rural community is increasing day by day. It has following reasons which are as
follows,

 Socio-Demographic factor

Many cases of domestic violence show that poverty is a contributing factor for domestic violence
against women particularly in Pakistani rural areas, where men are primary bread earners. As it
is expected from men to be more economically productive and they have to give economic
support to their homes, in case of failure to accomplish that goals they get frustrated and as a
result women have to face the abuse. Several studies have shown that demographic factors such
as age, number of living male children, and extended family residence are associated with risk of
domestic violence in rural areas because the larger family leads to more expectations from men.

 Dowry system

Dowry takes different forms in different cultures throughout the Pakistan, but dowry system is
more widely spread in rural areas of Pakistan. Additionally, the size and amounts of the dowry is
found the most common reason for disputes, with the groom's family demanding more than the
bride's family can offer, resulting in persecution of brides which leads to all types of domestic
violence. The dowry related issues irking domestic violence against women is not only present in
rural and tribal areas of Pakistan but, also in many urban families of cities.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN CIVILIZED COMMUNITIES OF PAKISTAN:

Domestic violence is now more of an emerging topic as it is widely prevails in Pakistan, not only
in rural areas of Pakistan due to some following reasons which are as follows;

 Substance abuse and alcoholic addiction;

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Domestic violence due to alcoholic addiction is seen in both rural and urban areas of Pakistan,
but it is more frequently present in urban areas. Though Pakistan is an Islamic country, a vast
majority of men are addicted to alcohol or other substance abuse and addicted intimate partners
are mostly seen as perpetrators for domestic violence against women in civilized cities of
Pakistan. Even when the wife points out the hazards of alcohol to her partner, it often results in
violence. The main implication made by males justifying their violent behavior towards their
women is that the religion gives them such a liberty.

 Increased Urbanization

Another factor given for the rise in domestic violence has been due to increased urbanization . In
particular, women who move cities or areas after marriage away from their respective family are
more at risk for domestic violence. These women are left without parental or familial support as
the only contacts they have are now limited to their husband and husband's family. Violent
spousal relationships are perpetuated by isolation of the victim and lack of social support.

The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says,
“It’s A Girl”.

7 REMEDIES
Legal aspects:
Numerous proposals and theories are presented for resolving the occurrence of domestic violence
against women;. There are clear provisions in the constitution of Pakistan regarding provision of
equal rights to all the citizens and providing them equal opportunities before the law. But this
ideal is yet to be achieved due to many hindering factors like to reach for justice or raising voice
for their rights including lack of awareness, costly law procedures and gender insensitive attitude
towards women.

A significant increase in the issue of domestic violence has been noted in the last few years.
Majority of the states have ratified Convention on Elimination of All forms of Discrimination
against Women (CEDAW) that oblige them to treat domestic violence against women as a
violation of human rights and to incorporate international standards into national legislation.
Pakistan had ratified CEDAW in 1996 and trying to fulfill the international commitment by in
the area of domestic violence against women.

In December 2006, the Protection of Women (Criminal Laws Amendment) Act was passed
containing several clauses in the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Criminal Procedure Code
(CrPC) in connection with sexual assaults on women and some modifications were made to Zina
Offense as well. Section 174-A was added to the CrPC in 2001 in an attempt to curb dowry

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related violence. Nevertheless, even though many laws were formulated to protect women and
the amendments made to present laws, serious violations continue in Pakistan. Furthermore, a

lack of implementation of existing laws further exacerbates their plight.

In August 2009, the National Assembly passed the Domestic Violence Bill that lays down
provisions for the protection of and monetary compensation for victims, punishment in the form
of fines or jail time for those who violate protection orders. Establishment of National
Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) in 2000 was a chain to the policy of establishing
framework of women development and gender equality and reviews the proposed
recommendations to be effectively put into implementation.

Any type of violence is illegal. Laws about violence against women give additional support to
women and families affected by violence. The most significant laws related to violence against
women are the Violence against Women Act and the Family Violence Prevention and Services
Act (FVPSA).
 Article 25 of 1973 constitution states: "All citizens are equal before law and are entitled
to equal protection of law. There shall be no discrimination on the basis of sex. Nothing
in this Article shall prevent the State from making any special provision for the protection
of women and children.
 Article 310A states: “Punishment for giving a female in marriage or otherwise in badla-e-
sulh, wanni or swara.- Whoever gives a female in marriage or otherwise compels her to
enter into marriage, as badal-e-sulh, wanni, or swara or any other custom or practice
under any name, in consideration of settling a civil dispute or a criminal liability, shall be
punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven
years but shall not be less than three years and shall also be liable to fine of five hundred
thousand rupees.”
 The Prevention of Anti Women Practices Act 2011 states: "Whoever by deceitful or,
illegal means deprives any woman from inheriting any movable or immovable property at
the time of opening of succession shall be punished with imprisonment for either
description for a term which may extend to ten years but not be less than five years or
with a fine of one million rupees or both."

 Violence against Women Reauthorization Act (2013)

The main federal law against violence is the Violence against Women Reauthorization Act of
2013. Domestic violence and abuse are already against the law. This law provides services and
support for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
The direct services provided for individual women by this law include:
 No charge for prosecution or civil protection orders in domestic violence

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 Programs to meet the needs of immigrant women and women of different races and
ethnicities
 Programs and services for women with disabilities
 Legal aid for survivors of violence
 Services for children and teens
 Protections for victims who are evicted from their homes because of events related to
domestic violence or stalking

 The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA)

The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) help victims of domestic violence
and their children by providing shelters and resources.
The Office on Violence against Women (OVW) provides federal leadership in developing the
national capacity to reduce violence against women and administer justice for and strengthens
services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

 Laws against Any Type of Domestic Violence Offence:

 Domestic violence (prevention and protection )Bill,2012

 Sindh Domestic Violence ( prevention and protection)Bill,2013
 Baluchistan Domestic Violence( prevention and protection)Bill,2014
 The Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Act ,2016

Local Laws:
Even though local laws can be slightly different from community to community, do not be afraid
to report violence to the police. The police will file a report, which is the start of a legal process
to get help and protection under the law.
Irum Khalid, special Assistant to Sindh Chief Minister for Women Development Department
inaugurated 1094 helpline on Wednesday at the Directorate OF Women Development
Department Karachi.
There is also a women helpline in Punjab established by Punjab Government. The toll-free
helpline 1043 operates from 8am to 4pm and women can get legal guidance regarding problems
they are facing related to harassment, domestic abuse and property dispute.

 Bedari and Asha NGO’s:

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We contacted both of these NGO’s, asked them that what facilities do they provide to the victim
of domestic violence. Both of them told us that they first provide them shelter and then file a
report to local police station and then assign them a lawyer.

8 COUNSELLING
Domestic violence survivors are at a high risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder,
substance abuse or stress-related mental health conditions. Survivors can have upsetting
memories or flashbacks, fear or a sense of danger that they cannot overcome. They may feel
numb or disconnected from the rest of the world.
Breaking the isolation of domestic violence by seeking counseling and support from friends and
family can help survivors to move forward. Counseling sessions provide a safe and confidential
environment for survivors to express their feelings, thoughts and fears. Counselors are
nonjudgmental third-party advisors who listen and can help survivors work through the things
that they are experiencing.
Group counseling can also be beneficial. Attending a group session can allow survivors to
connect with others who have been through similar situations. Connecting with these people can
reduce the feeling of isolation often created by abusers. Other survivors can also offer advice on
how they got through tough situations.
Listen attentively give the survivor a time to say what they need. Be patient. Help them to
express their feelings and show warmth and care.
Reaffirm Confidentially: make sure that victim knows that what she says will not be repeated
elsewhere. Help them identify others they can rely on and receive help from.
Legal awareness program and Media for change are the best tools for counseling the
survivors.

Remember: A Good Counselor has Big Ears, Big Eyes and A Small Mouth.
"Courage is like a muscle. We strengthen it with use."

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CHAPTER 4
9 CONCLUSION:
“Instead of saying, "I'm damaged, I'm broken, I have trust issues" say "I'm healing, I'm
rediscovering myself, I'm starting over.”
-Horacio Jones.
It is a common belief that women in Pakistan have limited rights or privileges in a male
dominated society. Women fare batter in urban areas and middle and upper sections of society.
The feminist movement started worldwide to protect women rights and gender-based violence.
The current research in Bahawalpur focused all those violations which women have to face in
their domestic life. The study of Bahawalpur indicates the conservative environment and its
impact on women rights violations. The Legal and punitive measures cannot succeed unless
social customs, norms and societal mentality are changed. Better Education facilities,
opportunities of employments and proper social and political participation can overcome this
issue. Moreover, the proper implementation of law and justice after violence is necessary to
eliminate this problem in the Pakistani society.
Islam condemns all forms of violence against women. The basic Islamic premise of equality
between women and men cannot be achieved so long as violence against women persists.

A common form of violence against women is that committed by husbands on their wives. Islam
requires that husbands treat their wives with respect and it prohibits any form of physical or
emotional abuse. The Quran requires that spouses treat each other with love and mercy. (Quran
30:21). Moreover, the Quran repeatedly warns against the use of injurious statements by a
husband against his wife. (Quran 58:2-4).
Domestic violence is an uncomfortable subject, and many people shy away from speaking up or
getting involved. That needs to change. In situations of domestic violence abuse, the first thing a
victim begins to lose is their voice. That is why we believe the power of a voice can play an
impactful role in transforming the lives of those affected by domestic violence and furthering the
effort to end this issue.
“The more people talk about domestic violence, the more we’ll share the message that it is
preventable,”
-Kelly Starr.

The marketable journey of “victim” to “survivor” offers “a false hope that experiences of abuse
can be understood and responded to in a similar way to illness,” which can result in a lifetime of
resentment and despair. Though the roots of violence against women are collective, our
responses will be different because we are different. A linear healing journey might work for
some, but others might have to battle against their trauma their whole lives. Both of these
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journeys—and those beyond and in between them—are valid. We must emphasize that seeing
yourself as a victim, or feeling like one, is not wrong or detrimental to our feminist collective
struggle. When we talk about gendered violence, we must look at survivorship and victimhood
as facets that co-exist—and make confronting sexual violence a collective struggle once again.

In the nutshell, it may be stated that the problem of violence against women is a complex one,
stemming from a broader canvas of intertwined social, cultural, economic and religious issues.
Addressing violence against women is a herculean task, albeit not an impossible one. A
comprehensive and organized strategy which places women’s rights on national priority is the
need of the day. A move is required which goes beyond simply criminalizing violence against
women on paper to one which transforms attitudes and mindsets to lead to a society where
women can breathe, dream and live with their heads held high.

“Find the strength inside yourself to value your own worth more than staying with someone
who only keeps you down.”

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CHAPTER 5
10 RECOMMENDATIONS:

Violence against women is a violation of basic human rights. It is shameful for the states that fail
to prevent it and societies that tolerate and in fact perpetuate it. It must be eliminated through
political will, and by legal and civil action in all sectors of society. There are the following
strategies and suggestions through which we prevent or reduced the domestic violence.

Relationship skills strengthened

Relationship skills strengthened refers to strategies aimed at individuals or groups of women,
men or couples to improve skills in interpersonal communication, conflict management and
shared decision-making.

 Empowerment of women
Empowerment of women refers to both economic and social empowerment including inheritance
and asset ownership, microfinance plus gender and empowerment training interventions,
collective action, creating safe spaces and mentoring to build skills in self-efficacy,
assertiveness, negotiation, and self-confidence. There should be enough opportunities of
employments and participation in political parties along with security and safety for women and
the seat allocation for recruitments of both genders should be considered on equality grounds.
More funds should be allocated to women's development in the country.

 Service ensured
Service ensured refers to a range of services including police, legal, health, and social services
provided to survivors.

 Poverty reduced
Poverty reduced refers to strategies targeted to women or the household whose primary aim is to
alleviate poverty ranging from cash transfers, savings, microfinance loans, labor force
interventions.

 Environment made safe

Environments made safe refer to efforts to create safe schools, public spaces and work
environments, among others. Measures to make urban and rural environments safer for women
can contribute to primary prevention. Such measures should be implemented systematically, by
identifying places where violence against women often occurs and analyzing why it occurs there.
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Depending on the risk factors identified and the available resources, safety can be enhanced
through, for example, improving lighting, increasing police and other vigilance, particularly in
areas where alcohol or other drugs are consumed, and opening up “blind spots” where an assault
could take place without anyone being able to see or hear it happening.

 Transformed attitudes, beliefs, and norms

Transformed attitudes, beliefs, and norms refers to strategies that challenge harmful gender
attitudes, beliefs, norms and stereotypes that uphold male privilege and female subordination,
that justify violence against women and that stigmatize survivors. These may range from public
campaigns, group education to community mobilization efforts.

 Educational programs
There should be enough educational programs in all societies and cultures, both for women and
men at the same levels. Women need to be empowered through education, employment
opportunities, legal literacy, and right to inheritance. In addition, education and information on
domestic violence should be provided for them. Change the mindset of families that providing
education is more important than giving dowry.

 Government should follow religious committee theme

There should be religious definitions of the basic rights of women like autonomy and freedom in
Pakistan on federal levels and the government needs to evaluate all of the basic rights of women.
For this a central committee can be made which should include religious leaders, Ulema, and
scholars who can consensually define the rights of women in the lights of Islamic teaching and
literature. But, for this of her ethnic and minority religious groups should be considered when
finalizing any package for basic rights of women. Government should also ensure that every
citizen of the country is following the main themes defined by the religious committee.

 Use of social media

Using social media for the prevention of violence against women refer to social media
campaigns designed to connect and inspire young people to take action to end violence against
women and to learn how social media can be harnessed for social change.

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CHAPTER 6
11 REFERENCE:
 https://irct.org/assets/uploads/Domestic%20ciolence%20against%20women.pdf
 https://jpma.org.pk/article-details/1372

 http://www.imj.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/12-RA.pdf
 https://pcsw.punjab.gov.pk/helpline_https://newint.org/features/web-
exclusive/2017/06/06/domestic-violence-pakistan
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1414670/
 https://jpma.org.pk › article-details

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