WORLD NEWS | Pakistani women’s rally for rights mocked: report

Islamabad [Pakistan], March 15 (ANI): Pakistan’s patriarchal rule resurfaced after International Women’s Day as women in the country stood up for their rights. Women in Pakistan who rallied for their rights and sought protection from gender-based violence and sexual harassment were mocked and even beaten by police, Just Earth News reported.

Until the courts intervened in the matter, Pakistani government authorities did not allow women to hold peaceful assemblies. According to news reports, Pakistan’s male-dominated society has resulted in widespread exploitation of women of all ages.

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Pakistan has recorded around 63,000 cases of gender-based violence in the past three years, according to PJust Earth News. According to the Pakistan Human Rights Commission, 80 percent of these complaints relate to domestic violence and 47 percent relate to domestic rape in which married women are sexually abused.

According to reports, about 90% of Pakistani women have experienced domestic violence at some point in their lifetime, and 50% of these women do not know about it. Only 0.4% of these women went to court to file a case. According to Just Earth News, Pakistani Minister Senator Rehman said: “Our society is full of patriarchy that oppresses women through a series of institutional, social and cultural norms that allow and normalize violence against women.”

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It is worth noting that since 2018, Pakistani women have held the “Aurat March” every year to express anger, seek protection and equal status. However, women face strong opposition from key segments of Pakistani society. Government authorities also opposed the march. In addition, curfews have been imposed in some places.

The Lahore courts stepped in and allowed the women to march. However, police authorities tried to stop the rally and beat the female participants. Even religious extremists reportedly attacked women in the Aurat march, which drew widespread criticism.

The Human Rights Commission criticized police authorities for using force. It said it was concerned by reports of religious groups trying to prevent women from marching, according to news reports.

“We are also concerned by reports that religious groups are trying to prevent women from marching. Women have the same right as any citizen to assemble peacefully,” the Human Rights Commission tweeted.

Aurat marches were held in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Hyderabad and Multan. According to news reports, women chanted slogans against sexual exploitation and domestic violence, and in support of women’s empowerment and equality.

“We talk about socialist feminism. We talk about democracy. We talk about anti-enforced disappearance. We talk about equality and women’s access to public spaces. That’s why the state always has problems with us,” Imaan Zainab told Just Earth News. reports, Mazari-Hazir, one of the organizers in Islamabad, said.

In 2020, a group of hardliners threw rocks at the female participants of the Aurat March. Even this year, Aurat March has been criticized. (Arnie)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)