1. WOMEN RIGHTS IN
PAKISTAN
Prevention & Protection
Going Home:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EDJxs1yJrQ

2. CONSTITUTIONAL
PROTECTIONS
• CONSTITUTION (1973): http://www.parliament.am/library/sahmanadrutyunner/pakistan.pdf
• Article 9: Security of person - No person shall be deprived of live or liberty saves in
accordance with law.
• Article 25: Equality of Citizens
• (1) All citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal protection of law.
• (2) There shall be no discrimination on the basis of sex
• (3) Nothing in this Article shall prevent the State from making any special provision
for the protection of women and children
• Article 34: Full Participation of Women in National Life - Steps shall be taken to ensure
the participation of women in all spheres of national life

3. PAKISTAN PENAL CODE, 1860
• 2010 Amendment: http://www.ncsw.gov.pk/prod_images/
Section-509-amendments.pdf
• CHAPTER XX-A : Of Offences [sic] Against Women
• 498A: Prohibition of depriving women from inheriting
property
• 498B: Prohibition of forced marriage
• 498C: Prohibition of marriage with the Holy Quran

4. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (PREVENTION
& PROTECTION BILL, 2013+
• Introduced by Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar
• Passed unanimously by Upper House of
Federal Parliament
• Success after 5 year collaborate struggle by
Aurat Foundation, activists, jurists, lawyers,
and women legislators
• Defines Domestic Violence
• Punishments:
• Beating of women or children: minimum
six months imprisonment + a fine of at
least Rs.100,000 ($1,100)
• +http://cedawsouthasia.org/2423/domestic-violence-act-passed-by-sindh-assembly-in-
pakistan

5. Women’s Protection Bill
• Passed November 15, 2006
• Amends highly-criticized Hudood Ordinance (governing rape & adult)
• Entails:
• Rape now included in Pakistan Penal Code
• Criminal Law not Sharia Law
• Requires formal accusation in court - not just suspicion of Police
• Change: Rape tried in criminal court with burden of forensic & circumstantial
evidence
• Controversy: Violation of Articles 2a and 227 of Constitution: “Islam will be the state
religion” and “No laws will be passed which are repugnant to the Quran and
sunnah.”

6. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON THE
STATUS OF WOMEN-PAKISTAN
• Statutory Body, est. July 2000
• Purpose: Examine policies, programs and
other measures taken by the Government for
women’s development and gender equality;
Review laws, rules and regulations affecting
the status of women; Monitor mechanisms
and institutional procedures for redress of
violations of women’s rights and individual
grievances; Encourage and sponsor
research to generate information, analysis and
studies relating to women and gender
issues; Develop and maintain interaction and
dialogue with NGOs, experts and individuals
in society at the national, regional and
international level; and other function assigned
to it by the Federal Government
• Laws Related to Activities/Efforts of
NCSW:
• Law Committee of NCSW
• http://www.ncsw.gov.pkLawReviewCommittee.php
• NCWS’s Petition Against Jirga Holdings
• Jirga: a grand council or grand assembly used to resolve political
conflicts or other national problems
• Women Specific Laws:
• http://www.ncsw.gov.pk/Pro-Women-Laws.php

7. CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN
• MURDER
• TARGET KILLING
• DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
• Mutilations
• Abductions
• Acid Attacks
• KARO-KARI
• Honour Killings
• ABDUCTIONS
http://www.pakistaniwomen.org

8. Afraid and Alone: Violence Against Women in Pakistan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tclrkxI8rO4

9. SOURCES:
• CEDAW: Domestic Violence Act passed by Sindh Assembly in Pakistn. http://
cedawsouthasia.org/2423/domestic-violence-act-passed-by-sindh-assembly-in-pakistan
• Gender Concerns International. Pakistan’s Senate Passed a Bill that Makes Violence
Against Women an Offence. http://www.genderconcerns.org/article.php?
id_nr=3112&id=Pakistan's%20Senate%20Passed%20a%20Bill%20that%20Makes
%20Violence%20Against%20Women%20an%20Offence
• Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860): http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/legislation/1860/
actXLVof1860.html
• Pakistani Women’s Human Rights Organization: http://www.pakistaniwomen.org/index.html
• The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. http://www.parliament.am/library/
sahmanadrutyunner/pakistan.pdf

10. Questions??