here has been a rise in reported incidents of domestic violence in 2023, especially in Sindh.

A report, published by the Sustainable Social Development Organisation, confirms that violence against women and girls is pervasive in the society in spite of legislation and interventions by the law enforcement departments.

The report, which highlights a surge in domestic violence cases in Sindh, unveiled a grim reality: in 2023, approximately 26 women were abducted every week, signalling a critical need for appropriate actions.

The SSDO has underscored the urgency of coordinated efforts to combat violence against women and called for collective action to address this problem. Looking ahead to 2024, law enforcement agencies must take effective measures to prevent domestic violence.

An alarming dataset from the report indicates that four women were raped every week in 2023. It is worth mentioning here that there is often a discrepancy between actual cases and the number of reported cases since a complex mix of sociocultural factors and legal barriers prevents many survivors from lodging complaints.

Surprisingly, in Sindh, the number of reported cases involving domestic violence has been low in comparison with the number of reported abductions. Still, according to the data, a case of domestic violence was reported nearly every day in 2023.

These findings underscore the urgency for comprehensive action to address the epidemic of domestic violence in the region.

Last year witnessed a surge in reported violence against women, as per SSDO report. On average, 11 women were killed in the name of honour monthly in 2023, with a reported case of domestic violence almost daily.

There were 136 instances of honour killing, 1,500 abductions, 165 cases of rape and sexual abuse, 73 incidents of workplace harassment and 350 incidents of domestic violence. These statistics paint a grim picture.

Syed Kausar Abbas, the SSDO executive director, says that domestic violence cases go underreported. He says women’s security concerns are a significant factor in their reluctance to take their complaints to the authorities.

While acknowledging improvements that have led to an increase in the number of reported cases, Abbas says that the police need to encourage survivors to report such incidents. “Stronger actions against perpetrators of violence and punishments will reduce domestic violence cases in Karachi,” he hopes.

Kausar Abbas says that the media needs to play its role in raising awareness about domestic violence. “Negative depictions of women on-screen can lead to an increase in violence,” he says.

Abbas says higher conviction rates in cases of gender based violence can become a deterrent. “A multifaceted approach is needed to combat the pervasive issue of domestic violence,” he says.

“The courts should ensure stringent actions against violators of domestic violence laws,” he says. “The police should offer support to the survivors and help them get justice,” he says.

Abbas speaks of his organisation’s efforts in hosting events across Pakistan to underscore the gravity of domestic violence as a criminal offence. “We must promote narratives where women take centre stage to foster a culture of empowerment and equality, both on-screen and in real life.”

The author is a freelance contributor. He can be reached at arslanshahzad882 @gmail.com