Domestic Violence…What’s that?

Domestic violence is one of the harshest and ugliest realities of our society, yet majority of us are not ready to acknowledge it. According to the research conducted by Aurat Foundation, there was a 33 percent increase in cases of violence against women in 2017 alone. The incidents are on rise because of multiple reasons: the first and foremost being the patriarchal mindset, followed by lack of awareness, religious factors and institutional barriers. Despite multiple policies to curb domestic violence not much have changed as the cases which are registered do not get adequate support from institutions, families and at large masses.

To top this all, the policies designed are filled with loopholes. Some of them are as following:

• Section 9 of the Prevention and Protection Act implies that the offender will only receive a warning for the first time the offense has been committed while he/she will be punished only the second time the crime is committed
• In PPWVA, the definition of domestic violence excludes women who are abused by relatives, who are not related by blood, living in the same household. This excludes a major section of the perpetrators of domestic violence i.e. the in-laws and hence, limits the scope of this policy
• The definition of dependent children excludes girls entirely, along with boys over 12 years and children with special needs
• The time frame given to address cases is unnecessarily long, putting the victim at a greater risk

The law rather than supporting the victim traumatize them and in the end majority of the cases are dropped due to pressure from either sides. Most women in such cases are highly financially dependent, hence they are left with no choice but to stay in the same household and bear everything for the sake of her children or because there is no other option. Cases registered are like a drop in the ocean, as domestic violence is considered as a personal matter and should be resolved by the families or the couple. The popular opinion of the society again takes its toll on the inferior and tries to shut them just to safe their false image. Religious quotes and that we are an Islamic Country is shoved down their throats, because as per the standards of our society domestic violence is a myth.

Domestic violence is a criminal act whether it is against a women, men or a child. It should be declared as a crime all over Pakistan, like it is declared in Sindh, to establish the seriousness of the crime and the state’s intolerance against all those committing it. Violence is never an option, therefore all those who think it’s alright to hit someone are mentally sick and should be taken to a psychiatrist or a psychologist for help. No one in their right mind would chose violence over other methods; it is used by cowards who like to show their strength with physical assaults.

Rather than helping, on the contrary, when someone decides to stand against it and choose to come up front with it, we abuse them, ask them to justify their stance or wait for the other side of the story. Had you or someone from your family been there all those notions would have gone down the drain, because it was a direct hit. Violence is a crime, and should be treated like one. Their career, lifestyle, education or financial background has nothing to do with it. It’s the mind and the privilege given by the society which helps them take it so lightly.

Look around yourself in your household, friends, or extended families you will see many such cases. Show them support, stand with them, fight for them and even if that’s not possible for you to do then stay quiet as your words are doing more harm. Violence cannot be curbed until and unless we as a society stand against it. No perpetrator should be left without bearing consequences. If hitting someone shows how MANLY they are, then their punishment should define how such heinous is not ACCEPTABLE, at any cost.

Sources:
1. Hadi, R., & Ullah, M. (2015). Violence Against Women Annual Report 2014: A qualitative review of reported incidents. Aurat Foundation
2. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. (2014). Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
3. Nabeel, F., Qamar, K. A., & Malik, B. (2016). Punjab Women Protection Law 2016: Research Brief. Center for Strategic and Contemporary Research