'Violence against women rose in 2011 in Pakistan'

Islamabad, Jan 16 (ANI): Violence against women increased in 2011 in Pakistan, according to incidents reported and registered at different forums, including police stations, courts and complaint cells.

According to The Dawn, 8,000 cases were reported in 2011, a 13 percent increase since 2008. These crimes ranged from domestic violence to physical and sexual assaults.

"This number is still unrepresentative of the issue on the ground, as our social norms prevent a large majority of the cases from being reported," Omer Aftab, National Coordinator of White Ribbon Campaign Pakistan (WRCP), said.

Bani Amin, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Islamabad, said that cases filed at women police stations remained in double digits for all months of the year.

There were many cases in 2011 in which women failed to get justice because the police were slow to take action.

"Unfortunately whenever a woman files an application against her family member, the issue is resolved through a 'patch-up' or 'reconciliation' Influential family members become judges and give decisions," the IGP said.

"However, in case of dispute between two tribes or opposing groups, women are still able to get justice as their familiesare far more supportive of their stance then. It will take some years before women will rise for their rights," he added.

Aftab further claimed that women who work late hours with male colleagues were especially vulnerable to assaults.

"On the other hand, non-working women face domestic violence. There are two ways to get rid of that issue: one, ensure proper implementation of law and second, by spreading awareness among both genders about it," he added. (ANI)

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