Shafaqna Pakistan | by Jawad Naqvi- A United Nations report on femicide has unveiled a grim reality that underscores what many advocates have long tried to bring to light: for countless women, the most perilous place is their own home. According to the report, an estimated 140 women and girls are killed daily by intimate partners or family members, adding up to a staggering 51,100 deaths in 2023 alone.
Released in anticipation of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the report is a sobering reminder of the pervasive violence inflicted on women and girls worldwide—a violence that transcends borders, cultures, and socioeconomic barriers.
What should be a haven often becomes a battlefield, with intimate partners and family members inflicting unspeakable harm. As “UN Women” poignantly observes, the home—a space that should symbolize safety and care—has become a site of terror for far too many women. These killings frequently represent the tragic culmination of years of abuse—abuse that is entirely preventable with timely and effective intervention.
The report highlights alarming femicide rates in regions such as Africa, the Americas, and Oceania, yet the scourge of gender-based violence is universal, fuelled by poverty, entrenched patriarchal norms, and dysfunctional legal systems. Globally, while women make up only 20% of homicide victims, 60% of those murdered are killed by intimate partners or family members.
A significant impediment to combating femicide is the glaring absence of reliable and comprehensive data. Many governments fail to accurately record femicide cases, particularly those that occur outside the domestic sphere. This chronic underreporting obscures the true magnitude of the crisis, resulting in ineffective policy responses that fail to address the root of the problem. Without accurate data, prevention strategies are inadequate, tackling only the visible surface of a much deeper issue.
Pakistan exemplifies the systemic failure to address femicide effectively. Despite recent legal reforms aimed at improving the tracking of gender-based violence, the justice system remains deeply flawed. Conviction rates hover at a dismal 5%, while 64% of accused perpetrators are acquitted. Such figures expose a justice system that not only fails survivors but also emboldens abusers. This failure is compounded by societal norms that normalize violence and a lack of institutional support for survivors.
Globally, the roots of femicide lie in gender inequality and patriarchal social structures that subordinate women and strip them of autonomy. Compounding the crisis is the abysmal funding allocated to combat gender-based violence. Just 5% of government aid worldwide is directed toward addressing violence against women, and a mere 0.2% of this funding is invested in prevention. Such neglect undermines any meaningful progress in eradicating femicide.
Nevertheless, grassroots movements around the world—from Turkey’s “We Will Stop Femicide” campaign to Kenya’s efforts to reform legal protections and Mexico’s protests against gender-based violence—are shining beacons of hope. These movements have amplified demands for systemic change, pressuring governments to take decisive action.
However, ending femicide requires more than activism. Governments must enact and enforce robust legal protections, allocate substantial funding for prevention and survivor support, and reform judicial systems to ensure swift and decisive accountability for perpetrators. Cultural attitudes and patriarchal norms that perpetuate violence must also be confronted and dismantled.
In Pakistan, this means clearing the backlog of unresolved cases, increasing conviction rates, and creating a system where survivors can safely report abuse without fear of stigma or retaliation. It requires the collective effort of civil society, policymakers, and international organisations to foster environments where women can live free of fear.
The fight against femicide demands continuous attention—not only on designated international days but every single day. To truly eliminate violence against women, society must prioritize justice, equality, and safety for half the world’s population.
Source: Shafaqna Pakistan
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