ISLAMABAD: The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) on Thursday expressed serious concern over the increasing number of reported cases of gender-based violence in the country. The stripping of Sharifan Bibi in Dera Islamial Khan’s village, rape and murder of minor Zainab in Kasur, rape and murder of minor Asma in Mardan, murder of medical student Asma Rani in Kohat for turning down a marriage proposal, reported attack of two boys who jumped in the house of a girl and stripped her naked in Charsadda and reports of blackmailing of a student of Bahauddin Zakariya University by a professor, all these cases call for taking immediate steps to address social mindset that leads to such heinous crimes and fill the gaps in effective implementation of existing laws. The NCSW demands immediate and stern action by the law enforcement agencies to arrest the perpetrators and believes that such incidents call for serious action by government, civil society and community at all levels. The NCSW also calls upon the relevant departments to provide psycho social, financial and legal support and security for the victims’ families. The commission referred to a recent research study titled ‘Access to Justice: For Survivors of Sexual Assault’ launched by NCSW which highlights that gender prejudice and lack of capacity of state institutions, including police, prosecution, medical staff and even courts, often obstruct or even deny justice to survivors. The research finds out that the sexuality of survivor always remains under scrutiny. It shows that medical and vital forensic evidence is not a priority of state or courts whereas, the general impression among law enforcement agencies is that most of these cases are fabricated by the survivors. On the basis of this study, the commission demands the government to look into the procedures and approaches, which hinder women access to justice in such cases and lead to low conviction rate. The NCSW also calls for the approval of pending laws on violence against women, especially domestic violence and establishment of state of the art forensic labs equipped with facility of DNA testing in all provinces and ICT. The Commission appreciates media for highlighting such cases and also encourages media to follow media ethics while covering the victims and their families especially stay sensitive in the use of images and language. Published in Daily Times, February 2nd 2018.