Gender Based Violence and Domestic Abuse in Pakistan

 

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, January 15, 2021 

By Mishal Zia 

Recent year, Pakistan faced a stark crisis of gender-based violence and domestic abuse, exposing deep social fault lines and systemic failures in law enforcement and justice. Government and civil society data recorded over fourteen thousand cases of gender-based violence that year, a figure that represents only a fraction of actual incidents due to chronic under-reporting and cultural stigma.

Among the most brutal and widely reported cases was the murder of Noor Mukadam, a 27-year-old woman and daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat. On July 20, 2021, she was kidnapped, tortured, raped, and ultimately killed in Islamabad. The shocking nature of the crime Mukadam was decapitated after two days in captivity — sparked nationwide outrage and became a defining symbol of gender-based violence in Pakistan. The suspect was later convicted and sentenced to death, while civil society called for deeper systemic reforms to protect women.

On August 14, 2021, during Independence Day celebrations at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore, a young woman was assaulted by a large crowd. Viral video footage showed the victim being groped and thrown into the air while bystanders failed to intervene. The incident ignited national condemnation and renewed discussions about the safety of women in public spaces.

Beyond these high-profile cases, ordinary women and girls suffered widespread abuse, including rape, gang rape, torture, abduction, and honour killings. In 2021 alone, thousands of such incidents were recorded, with domestic violence — harm inflicted by family members — remaining a significant yet often underreported component of the crisis. Cultural norms and social stigma continue to prevent many victims from seeking justice, and conviction rates for gender-based crimes remain depressingly low. Limited police capacity, weak forensic support, and societal pressures contribute to widespread impunity for perpetrators.

Civil society and human rights activists sought to raise awareness and demand change. In March 2021, the Aurat March in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore drew tens of thousands of participants to protest violence, discrimination, and legal inequalities. Organizers called for better protection for survivors, expedited justice processes, and reforms to address systemic gender inequities. Advocates also highlighted the urgent need for stronger police training, improved shelters, and comprehensive policy change to support survivors of abuse.

Despite legislative frameworks intended to curb violence against women, survivors continue to face social ostracism, economic dependency, and barriers within the justice system. Activists warn that without sustained political commitment and community engagement, patterns of domestic abuse and gender-based violence will remain entrenched threats to women’s safety and rights.

As Pakistan reflects on the events of 2021, the ongoing struggle for gender equality and protection against violence remains central to public discourse, demanding both societal change and institutional accountability.

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