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‘Rape Emergency’ Declared In Pakistan’s Punjab Province To ‘Handle’ Rape Crisis

• By All That Trending
• 23-06-2022
• 18.42K

'Rape epidemic' isn’t the term sounds weird? Yes! It does! However, it is a reality that the female community in Pakistan is facing at present. Recently, the Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province declared a ‘Rape Emergency’ to handle the rape crisis growing in the region. While addressing a press conference on Monday, Punjab Home Minister Atta Tarar said that rising cases against the female community are a worrying cause from both the societal and the governmental perspective. “Regularly, four to five cases are being reported from different parts in the Punjab province, due to which the government is considering to take special measures to tackle cases of sexual harassment, abuse, and coercion”, he replied to a query. “To put a curb on rising rape cases, the administration has declared an emergency”, he stated. The minister added that consultations and suggestions are under process from civil society, women’s rights organizations, teachers, and attorneys of the nation regarding the issue. In addition, he urged parents to teach their children the importance of individual safety.  To assure citizens regarding the crisis, Tarar stated that all rape accused have been detained, the government has launched anti-rape campaigns, and teachers are cautioning students about sexual harassment in schools. During the press conference, the Home Minister stated that now is the time for parents to learn how to protect their children. He stated that the government would raise the number of DNA collections on a fast-track basis.  He further added that “a system on abuse will be implemented in the next two weeks, to reduce rising incidents”.

Pakistan’s Position On Other Global Indexes

Since a long time now, Pakistan has been suffering and battling a gender-biased violence epidemic which cuts across different classes in the country. According to the Global Gender Gap Index 2021 ratings, Pakistan ranks 153 out of 156 countries. Iraq, Yemen, and Afghanistan acquire further ranks, respectively. As per the details published in the International Forum for Rights and Security (IFFRAS), Pakistan has reported as many as 14,450 rape cases during the last four years. And the Punjab province contributes high figures in this regard. Besides rape cases, harassment in the workplace, domestic violence, and other discriminatory activities against women are also increasing. According to IFFRAS’ official statement, “The overlapping legal systems punctured with loopholes and pertaining patriarchal thinking in the society combine to resist to provide justice to the victims as per the opinions of human rights activists, lawyers, and survivors”. No matter what is happening in the country, the rising figures reflect an alarming situation that Pakistan is going through. If the issue is not addressed in time, it can disturb Pakistan's societal balance. Therefore, timely actions are necessary to address the cause.

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