Daily Times

Lahore: In a joint statement issued on Friday, civil society activists called upon the government and political parties to come together to initiate concerted efforts against rampant misogyny across the country’s social fabric.

The statement said, “We were still reeling from the horrific story of Kainaat, 7, raped, brutally tortured and killed by her male relatives/guardians at her home in Karachi. Now, we get the shocking news of 13 girls’ schools being blasted and burnt down in Diamer/Chilas. “Our strongest condemnation of yet another atrocity against girls.”

The statement proceeded to ask a series of questions about the prevalence of sexual violence and anti-women attitudes. It also highlighted that no action had yet been taken against networks responsible for trafficking and prostitution of young girls across Pakistan. “Where are the police/LEAs? Where is the rule of law? Where are the upholders of constitutional guarantees of the life, liberty, security, and dignity of all citizens, which includes the 48 percent female population of Pakistan? Where is Article 25-A regarding Right to Education (RTE) for all Pakistani children, both boys and girls?”

The statement noted that atrocities against women went beyond party politics. “We are saddened and outraged, and we urgently call upon all political parties to demonstrate their political will and commitment; to rise above their political differences and urgently work together to jointly address rampant gender-based violence and misogyny. We call upon all state institutions to take urgent action to protect girls’ schools everywhere. We demand immediate establishment and operationalisation of the National Commission on Child Rights (NCCR) and its provincial counterparts.”

Published in Daily Times, August 4^th 2018.