Violence against women on the rise

Recently a young girl was brutally attacked and pushed from a rooftop by her husband in the presence of her mother. Another girl was tortured and killed in her in-laws' house for pursuing higher studies. It seems as if no woman is safe in our country. A large number of women victims do not report cases of violence. 

Patriarchy is the root cause. Increasing the number of institutions for girls, which has thankfully happened in recent years, is simply not enough to change the existing mental framework. Sons need to be talked to, and fathers educated; young girls need to be encouraged and mothers should be empowered further. There is also a lack of sincere effort on the part of administration and the law enforcement agencies - often victims feel embarrassed and afraid to lodge complaints. We can only ask that the authorities continue to work to build a country where women need not fear violence in every step of their lives.

Zubair Khaled Huq

By email