Women standing crossroad of Desire and Despairs

Violence against women is everyday reality not only in Pakistan but it is a worldwide
phenomena. In all societies, to a greater or lesser degree, women and girls are subjected to
physical, sexual and psychological abuse that cuts across lines of income, class and culture.

According to an Internet Journal “New Internationalist” (Issue 270, Women 1995”),

domestic violence is the leading cause of injury among women of reproductive age
(between 22% and 35% of women) in United States whereas a woman is beaten every 18
minutes. While reporting regarding United Kingdom, New Internationalist described that
25% of all reported violent crime is wife assault and nearly 50% of female victims of
homicide in England and Wales are killed a partner or ex‐partner. According to report as 1
in 5 women in UK experience domestic violence. Surprisingly, the Journal quoted that every
year over 50,000 women and children stay in refugee throughout England to escape
domestic violence. Throwing acid to disfigure a woman’s face is so common in Bangladesh.
Approximately 05 women are burned in dowry‐related disputes everyday in India. Rape
cases and honor killing is more common violent against women in Pakistan. According to
reports 2513 cases of rape and 577 cases of honor killing were reported in the year 2000.

In traditional societies to be a WOMAN is to be non person. Women stand facing multiple

form of violence which includes rape, domestic abuse as spousal murder, mutilation,
burning and disfiguring face by throwing acid, beating, ritual honor killings and custodial
abuse and torture.

Article 1 of the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence 1993 defines the
term Violence against Women as “any act of gender‐based violence that results in, or is
likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological suffering to women, including threats of
such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivations of liberty, whether occurring in public or
private life”. The UN Special Reporter on violence against women has defined domestic
violence as “violence perpetrated in the domestic sphere which targets women because of
their role within that sphere or as violence which is intended to impact, directly and
negatively on women within the domestic sphere. Such violence may be carried out by both
private and public actors and agents. This conceptual framework intentionally departs
from traditional definitions of domestic violence which address violence perpetrated by
inmates against inmates...” (UN Doc. E/CN.4/1996/53,para 28)

Although, constitutions of respective countries also guarantee equal rights for women but
typical and tribal societies are not given rights to women to survive at own desire and
dreams. Due to cultural norms and the prevailing social setup women are dependent on
men who take an undue advantage of their position and instinctively propagate male
chauvinism. Women folk from cradle to the grave are not generally treated as equals, in
rights and status, to men. Traditional society does not acknowledge their contribution
towards its socio‐economic development.
Discrimination against women is widespread and deep‐rooted. They are down‐graded,
deprived and dehumanized through social practices and customs. Injustices are ingrained
in state policies and economic systems. It is a global phenomenon but South Asia is a flash
point. The use of violence against women is both a form of discrimination and a means of
perpetuating the whole phenomenon of gender inequity. It is frequently resorted to and
results in physical, emotional and psychological damage or death. Though poverty is a
major contributing factor to the traditional societies but more than it, woman is in the grip
of many customs and traditions following by centuries.

Pakistan is also a party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women (CEDAW). The purpose of the CEDAW is to reduce gender discrimination
for everyone’s benefit by focusing on I) civil rights & the legal status of women II) the
discrimination of human reproduction and III) the impact of cultural factors on gender
relations but all three concerns in Pakistan are not addressed yet. Besides, the article 14 (h)
of CEDAW provides equal access to adequate living conditions including Housing, Water &
Sanitation & Electricity and the article 7, 8, 10 and 12.1 entitled women to have equal rights
of access to health care, education and equally participation in public life. Article 3 stated
that “the state must take all measures to ensure the full development and advancement of
women”. But all these legislation’s and regulations fails to protect women in term of gender
discrimination.

The failure of the mainstream political parties to respond to peoples' aspirations for socio‐
economic change has led to a general disillusionment with traditional forms of politics as a
means for political change. The domination of the mainstream political parties and the
legislatures by feudal and big business interests, the lack of community perspectives in
discussions in the legislatures on issues of distributive justice, poverty, economic policy,
minorities and women rights, and ecological degradation has meant that these issues are
increasingly being taken up by peoples' organizations and advocacy NGOs. Consequently,
people have started responding by organizing for themselves the provision of such services
and the protection of rights. NGOs, however, cannot substitute for the state. The state owes
a responsibility to its citizens for the provision of essential services. Nevertheless NGOs
can, by creating innovative models, present examples for the state and society to adopt.

It is within this context that some NGOs which are trying to intervene on behalf of the
marginalized and the disadvantaged are faced with serious challenges. State institutions at
the local, regional and the national level have not been able to meet the needs and demands
of the disadvantaged and the marginalized. By and large, these institutions are being used
by powerful vested interests to further their own agendas and interests at the cost of the
ordinary people. The struggle for control over resources as well as access to services and to
centers of decision making can be witnessed in both the urban and rural areas of Pakistan.
These struggles are at times peaceful but in the absence of credible justice systems
frequently assume violent forms. There have been instances when concerted efforts by
citizens' groups in urban areas and communities at the local level in rural areas have been
successful in creating the space for the voices of the poor and the marginalized to be heard.
To what extent has this been translated into actions that point towm.ds policy and
institutional change is, however, another matter.
NGO advocacy is the logical outcome of the present socio‐ economic and political crisis. In
such a situation the challenge for NGOs is to work with the disadvantaged and marginalized
to remove barriers in the way of their access to resources and centers of decision making.
In other words the overall objective of NGO advocacy is to democratize unequal power
relations. It is the recognition and legitimacy of this role amongst NGOs and the state that
can neutralize the tensions which exist between the development and advocacy work of
NGO’s.

Women in traditional societies stand at crossroads of desires and despairs. Saying of Mr.
Mehboob Ul Haq would be appropriate to end up that “Those societies, which have given
equal access to women and men in economic and political opportunities, have progressed
much faster than those that denied such access. Gender equality is necessary condition for
sound human development” (Report of Development in South Asia‐2000).