The shame of violence against women

The 16 Days of Activism to Stop Violence Against Women, began from 25 November. According to a 2011 poll of experts by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, Pakistan is the third most dangerous country for women in the world. More than 1,000 women and girls are murdered in honour killings every year. 90 percent of Pakistani women suffer from some form of domestic violence.

Victims are often reluctant to speak up about physical or sexual abuse. If they do, they are seen as having lost their and their family’s dignity. As is often the case in the West, many rapes go unreported. Many Pakistani victims fear they will become worthless in the eyes of society. Many charitable organisations try to help empower women, but not all women take advantage of these resources. They fear bringing dishonour of their families, or they do not know that help exists. With female literacy at 36%, many women are unaware of their rights. So today is about highlighting these issues and what can be done about them.

Back in July, I had the honour of hosting a debate in Islamabad on the UK’s ‘Ending Sexual Violence’ Initiative. The debate was part of a global relay of events being organised by 145 British Diplomatic Missions worldwide. It coincided with the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, hosted by William Hague in London on 10-13 June 2014. At our debate in Islamabad, I learnt from some prominent women parliamentarians and activists the important progress that has been made in Pakistan to prevent the horrific crime of sexual violence in the last few years. Four important bills have already been moved in Parliament to protect women and strengthen their rights, including legislation on Prevention of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, Acid Crime and Control, Prevention of Anti Women Practices and Domestic Violence.

The British Government wants to support all those who are committed to taking concrete action to remove rape and sexual violence from the world’s arsenal of cruelty. We are working with the Government of Pakistan and various non-government organisations to support implementation of legislation tackling domestic violence, honour killings, sexual harassment, acid burning and unequal rights in marriage and inheritance. Over the last eight years, UK funding has helped to provide counselling and legal aid to 35,000 women victims of violence.

We are also working closely with Pakistan’s Provincial Governments and partners to empower women through education and economic means. By 2015, the UK will facilitate over a million microfinance loans to poor women, helping them to lift their families out of poverty. Four million children will have benefited from UK Aid’s education programmes, half of whom are girls. We believe that investing in women and girls is transformational – for themselves, their family and their community.

Evidence suggests that the countries where women and men have equal rights are more productive and prosperous. As a longstanding partner of Pakistan, the UK is committed to working for gender equality and women’s empowerment in Pakistan. Living free from violence is a human right. And a right is not what someone gives you; it’s what no one can take from you.