Pakistan reports highest incidence of violence against women during Pandemic in 2020

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan reported 2,297 cases of violence against women from 25 districts between January and December 2020, according to a recent report by the Aurat Foundation.

This number is despite the challenge of under-reporting because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The data shows that at the peak of the pandemic in July, cases of violence against women were highest.

Following this, the number of cases dropped again but rose in September due to the resurgence of COVID-19.

A report, ‘Violence against women and girls in the time of COVID 19 pandemic’ was released by the Aurat Foundation in collaboration with SAP-PK under the project:
Jazba- Democracy and Empowered Women or Jumhoriat Aur Baaikhtiar Aurat’.

• Women rights activists,
• Parliamentarians
• Academicians,
• Media persons

attended an event on the report.

The research is based on review and analysis of data on the incidents of violence against women collected from selected newspapers verified by local police stations in 25 selected districts;

Analysis of 14 case studies of violence against women; and analysis of six interviews from key government officials in Provincial Commissions on the Status of Women.

The key findings of the review and analysis of the data have presented by Dr. Rakhshinda Perveen.

Province-wise breakdown of violence against women cases

The findings show that among the total number of incidents,
57% were reported from Punjab
27% from Sindh
8% from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
6% from Gilgit Baltistan
2% from Balochistan

However, Punjab reported the highest incidents of murder, rape, suicide, acid burning, kidnapping, domestic violence, child and forced marriage, dowry, and inheritance.

Also, Sindh had the most cases of honor killing.

In Addition to it; The victims of violence and survivors of violence ranged from two years to middle age and they belonged to all socio-economic backgrounds.

The violence occurred both in-home and public places.

The launch event also featured a theater performance on violence against women and COVID 19 by Alina Chaudhry. Through solo performance, Alina highlighted the correlation between COVID 19 and the situation of women.