Daily Times

According to the Human Rights Watch, about 1,000 “honour killings” are registered each year and other issues such as acid attacks, domestic violence and forced marriages remain a serious problem even as we claim to be moving forward as a nation in terms of our thinking and rigid social order.

Although in the wake of the murder of Qandeel Baloch, the Pakistani parliament passed a bill that was intended to curb the number of honour killings, it has obviously not been very effective since human rights campaigners have estimated about 1,500 such killings between 2016 and 2018 alone and this figure was also confirmed by the vice chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

In June of 2019, the murder of 19-year-old Mehwish Arshad in Faisalabad for refusing a marriage proposal drew national attention.

Pakistan ranks at 130 on the Gender Inequality Index. About 24.5 percent of women who are between the ages of 15 and 49 experience some form of physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime and over the past two years there have been countless cases of abduction, rape and murder. From minors being gang-raped in Gujrawala to a little girl’s own uncle being arrested for her rape and murder in Pakpathan, this country has seen it all. Not even a week ago, a man was reported to have thrown acid on his wife and mother in law over a domestic dispute and a 14-year-old girl who had been repeatedly raped by 4 men was reported to have given birth to a child.

Forced marriages are not just a problem faced by Muslim women living in Pakistan, but by women of religious minority groups as well. One report by the Movement for Solidarity and Peace in Pakistan found that about 1000 women from minority communities are forced to convert and marry Muslim men each year. Early marriages are also a problem seeing as about 21 percent of girls are forced to marry before the age of 18 while 3 percent are married before they turn 15. Child molestation is yet another common occurrence and according to Sahil, 11 cases of child sexual abuse are reported every day across Pakistan. In 2018, about 3,832 cases were reported across Pakistan, of which 55 percent were girls. These figures have only risen in 2019. The number of reported acid attacks in 2018 and 2019 is 62 while a huge amount still goes unregistered or reported as the victims feel ashamed to come forward.

In light of all the aforementioned figures, a vast majority of the population condemns Aurat March, a protest movement that is aimed at promoting, preserving and demanding the rights and protection that women and other members of the society are being denied. We live in a society that has blinded itself to true logic and facts and has instead chosen to hide behind the façade of rigid mind-sets and fundamental beliefs that have been passed down for years, turning the other cheek to stats that are reported by world-renowned organizations regarding the conditions women and other minority groups have to live under. We have drowned so deep in internalized misogyny that we sometimes fail to see what is right in front of our eyes. Slogans demanding equality seem obscene when they threaten the very roots of our beliefs and so we lash out and choose to ignore the fact that all they are asking for is freedom and choice. One such slogan in particular has been the target of hateful retaliation and backlash both on social media and on television. Mera Jism, Meri Marzi, which translates to My Body, My Choice. In a country where women do not have control over their own bodies, where they are forced to marry against their will, are subjected to marital rape and are led to believe that bearing children is a requirement, the slogan merely demands a say in such matters, a right ever human being is entitled to as well. The right to have power over one’s own body is in fact not just a feminine matter as countless men are also led to believe that they need to act or appear a certain way in order to survive in the society that we live in.

Pakistan ranks at #130 on the Gender Inequality Index. About 24.5 percent of women who are between the ages of 15 and 49 experience some form of physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime and over the past two years, there have been countless cases of abduction, rape and murder

Women are subjected to acid attacks and are murdered in the name of honour, simply for refusing a decision that has been made for them or for making one that will affect them for the rest of their lives. It is no surprise that in several parts of the country, a woman’s body is considered to be her most valuable asset and decisions about how she uses that body are made for her, so when she stands up and says no, it causes outrage. Mera Jism Meri Marzi is calling an end to these decisions and demanding that the choice be left to those who own those bodies. We live in a time where women are told what to wear and what not to for fear of them being on the receiving end of obscene remarks or sexual assault and ultimately bringing a dent on the family’s honour when a three-year-old girl was raped by a relative and when completely veiled women are still ogled by men. According to data given by the UN, 48 percent of Pakistani women aged between 15 and 49 have no say in decisions regarding their healthcare. In the rural areas, the rates go up to as high as 55 percent while the tribal areas report even higher figures. They are forced to bear children even if their own life is in danger and if they want to opt for a contraceptive procedure, they are bound to ask for their husband’s permission before the procedure can even be performed. It is these simple decisions that should be the fundamental right of any human being that they are denied.

Standards of beauty are another issue that women are forced to deal with. While they should be encouraged to love their own bodies and skin colour, they are being forced to standards that are simply unrealistic and sometimes even beyond their control. While the world moves forward and concepts of self-love and acceptance are being embraced, we are forced to deal with people who judge based on the colour of the skin, weight etc. When a woman gets married she is expected to be fair as that is considered to be a sign of beauty. She needs to be skinny but not too skinny, have a perfectly sculpted face but not too made up or it might raise questions about her character.

The march is not just demanding rights for women. Countless trans and non-binary persons are subjected to various forms of abuse on a daily basis and these cases are usually not even reported. Trans women are forced to bear crude remarks, unfair living conditions as well as little to no opportunities for employment. The march aims to raise a voice for their rights as well. Economic freedom, political participation, access to better facilities in rural areas, environmental protection, rights of the disabled and better representation in the media are some other issues that the march aims to raise a voice for.

In conclusion, if we are to progress as a nation, we need to take a moment to pause and reflect on the values we possess, their validity in today’s context and decide whether we want to pass these on to the next generation. When ego and misinterpretation gets in the way of progress, the whole society suffers.

The writer is a freelance and a student of marketing and can be reached at minaalmohsin@hotmail.com