Reality beyond your imagination

Like all over the world, ‘International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women’ was also observed on Friday, Nov 25 in Pakistan. On the occasion, USAID Mission Director Andrew Sisson said ‘Gender-based violence is not and never has been a women’s issue. It is a human issue, a fundamental issue of human dignity and human rights.’

According to research, there are five ways by which women become the victims of torture/violence. 1. Domestic Violence
2. Elder Abuse
3. Female Genital Mutilation
4. Force Marriages/Honour Killing
5. Trafficking/Sex Trade

Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of United Nation, said ‘Violence against women continues to persist as one of the most heinous, systematic and prevalent human rights abuses in the world.’

According to Article 5 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights ‘No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.’

Similarly, Article 16 (2) of Universal Declaration of Human Rights said that ‘Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intended spouses.’

According to the research, there are more people in slavery in the world today than in the entire 350 year history of the slave trade. Article 4 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights strongly condemns the slavery as written that ‘No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.’

Andrew Sisson launched the international campaign ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence’ in Pakistan. The Ministry of Human Rights and the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls (EVAWG) Alliance joined hands with other development partners together to mark the 16 days of activism campaign.

EVAWG Alliance also launched a ‘One Million Signatures Campaign’, through which people across the Pakistan signed cards to highlight their commitment to end violence against women.

Women rights activist urged that the campaign aims to create awareness about pending legislation on domestic violence.

Timo Pakkala, UN Resident Coordinator, said ‘a lot still needs to be done to control and eliminate Violence against Women in Pakistan.’

The campaign will ends on December 10, which incidentally is International Human Rights Day thus symbolically linking violence against women and human rights.