Daily Times

PESHAWAR: Expressing grave concern over the death ratio of women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in honor killing, domestic violence and other related issues, the office bearers of Aurat Foundation (AF) on Tuesday demanded of the KP Government to legislate the domestic violence bill in the province aimed at reducing the challenges being faced by women.

“The KP is only province where the bill is still not passed while in other provinces the bill has passed. Every year more than 14,000 women were killed in Pakistan in the name of honour killing, domestic violence and other issues. Meanwhile KP is on top in this regard”, disclosed Shabeena Ayaz, resident director, AF while briefing the journalists here at Peshawar Press Club.

She said that every year the AF shared and published the data about the victim women of honour killing, domestic violence and others but the data in current year is more as compare to the previous years. However, she ensured that they would very soon collect the data and would bring before
the media.

“Currently, 101 million children round the globe are out of schools and half of them are girls. The girls’ percentage in Pakistan is lower at 44 per cent enrolled in schools while boys at 56 per cent”, said Shabeena.

Although, she said the girls enrollment rate dropped drastically after primary level in both public and private institutions, adding that education was a fundamental human rights that be safe and accessible for all.

Saima Munir, senior officer, AF, said that it was need of the hour to pass a law in KP which give more protection and beneficial to victim. She said that the cases on criminal basis regarding women issues should not be decided on Jirga system and should be decide on the courts decisions.

“Millions children, specially girls, right to education is impacted or cut short due to violence, lack of resources and discrimination. Out of 24.02 million out of school children 52.3 percent are girls”, she said.

She added that the AF through its 16 days of activism against gender-based violence campaign would create awareness among the masses and advocating the human rights aimed at giving education opportunities to all children in Pakistan particularly KP and district Peshawar.

She maintained that the KP women faced various challenges including domestic violence, early age marriages, honor killing and other problems. She said that efforts should be made to change a specific mindset regarding the women in the province.