Every 10 minutes, a woman is killed in the world. This draws attention to the alarming escalation of violence against women to revive commitments and call for accountability and action from decision-makers.

The estimates published by the World Health Organisation indicate that globally about 736 million women, one in three (30 per cent) worldwide have been subjected to either physical and/ or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime. Most of this violence is close partner violence. Worldwide, almost one-third (27 per cent) of women aged 15-49 years who have been in a relationship, report that they have been subjected to some form of physical and/ or sexual violence.

Each year, to raise public awareness of gender-based violence across the world, the United Nations recognises November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The day also starts the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which culminate with International Human Rights Day on December 10. The theme for this year is: Unite to end violence against women and girls.

The commemoration aims at preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls around the world. It is a call on governments, civil society, women’s organisations, young people, the private sector, the media and the UN system to join forces in addressing the global pandemic of violence against women and girls. Adoption and enforcement of national laws to address and punish all forms of violence against women and girls, in line with international human rights standards need to be put into practice. The solution lies in robust responses, holding perpetrators accountable and accelerating action through well-resourced national strategies and increased funding for women’s rights movements.

Gender bias undermines social consistency and reduces the value of every individual. It transcends human rights, representing a significant squandering of global human potential. Denying women equal rights deprives half of the world’s population of the opportunity to fulfil their potential. Achieving political, economic and social equality for women will benefit all citizens worldwide. By uniting against prejudice, we can advocate for equal rights and foster mutual respect for every individual.

We notice that worldwide women are being killed because they of their sex. These women are mostly targeted by their own families and partners.

In 2022, around 48,800 women and girls worldwide were killed by their intimate partners or other family members. This means that, on average, more than five women or girls are killed every hour by someone in their family.

As reported by the UNFPA, in Pakistan 28 per cent of women aged 15-49 have experienced physical violence, and six per cent have experienced sexual violence. Over 34 per cent of ever-married women have experienced spousal physical, sexual or emotional violence. Five per cent of women have experienced spousal sexual violence. The Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2017-18 reveals that more than 56 per cent of women who have experienced any type of physical or sexual violence have not sought help or talked to anyone about this violence. This is mainly due to socio-cultural barriers, economic dependency and the absence of information on laws and legislation that protect them, as well as the lack of existence of support systems such as healthcare and psycho-social care services.

Violence can negatively affect women’s physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health and, in some settings, may increase the risk of acquiring HIV.

The survey found that 18 per cent of girls were married before the age of 18, and 3.6 per cent were married before the age of 15, leaving their education incomplete and putting their health, well-being and safety at risk. These women often have anaemia and malnutrition due to teen pregnancies and poor health.

Violence can negatively affect women’s physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health and, in some settings, may increase the risk of acquiring HIV.

Pakistan has a good normative legal framework for gender-based violence. Right from The Pakistan Penal Code of 1860 (Pakistan’s main criminal code, covering all substantive aspects of criminal laws) to the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace (Amendment) Bill-2022, there have been 38 Laws, Acts and Ordinances passed in the country specifically addressing women rights and privileges.

Despite these laws being in place, weak implementation and poor response mechanisms to gender-based violence remain an issue. Discriminatory gender and social norms lead to infirm and ineffective support structures, often resulting in impunity for the perpetrators.

Parliaments, in this scenario, are crucial to monitoring the enforcement of existing laws. In a democracy, a successful law has to be correctly enforced. Parliamentarians can use their position to bring on board the police, prosecutors, judiciaries, healthcare providers, social workers, religious leaders, etc on this issue. Successful implementation also requires society’s awareness of violence against women.

Pakistan is a signatory to the declaration at the 4th International Conference on Women in 1995, Additional Protocols I and II of the Geneva Convention and ratified the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in March 1996 that ties for an effective policy formulation on gender equality. In addition to that, the country will have to consider the seriousness of addressing the fifth Goal of Sustainable Development: gender equality - leave no one behind, to check the situation on violence against women and girls.

Violence prevents women and girls from living in dignity and enjoying their fundamental rights and blocks them from achieving their full potential. It is one of the toughest obstacles to the advancement of women’s social and economic prosperity.

AntónioGuterres the secretary-general of the United Nations, said in his message for the day, “The epidemic of violence against women and girls shames humanity. Every day, on average, 140 women and girls are killed by someone in their own family. Around one in three women still experience physical or sexual violence. We need to end this violence and call on all of us to join forces to stop violence against women and girls everywhere.”

The writer is a playwright and a freelance journalist. He can be reached at pashajaved1@gmail.com and his blogging site: soulandland.com