Domestic violence inexcusable, punishable by law Speakers
- June 13, 2014, 9:46 pm
- National News
- 119 Views
QUETTA June 13 (PPI): Rutgers WPF Pakistan held a dissemination seminar in Quetta to share findings of the research study ?Maternal Health & Domestic Violence: Impact of personal and social factors.?
MPA Dr Shama Ishaq Baloch was the chief guest while seminar was attended by Mohtarma Slam Qureshi , Additional Secretary Women Development Department, Mohtarma Rehna Khilji, Members Provincial Assembly, government officials, prominent experts, and representatives of the media and Non-governmental organizations.
The qualitative study explores patterns of Gender Based Violence and its health effects on pregnant women and their unborn child.
The study was conducted in Dera Ghazi Khan (Punjab), Muzaffergarh (Punjab), Kashmore (Sindh), Jacobabad (Sindh), Jafferabad (Balochistan) and Naseerabad( Balochistan) districts. A total of 48 focus group discussions and 120 in depth interviews were conducted with men, women, healthcare providers, religious leaders and key decision makers in the community.
Aftab Ahmed Manager Programs, Rutgers WPF in his opening speech remarked that education, women empowerment, change in behaviors of men and effective implementation of existing laws can ensure Balochistan to be free of gender based violence. He further added, ?Baluchistan?s high mortality stands at 785 per 100,000 live births, contributing to towards this are customary practices, child marriages and lack of reporting of gender based violence issues in Pakistan.?He said mmr ratio in Pakistan is around 270. It means it is three times bigger in the Balochistan. He said 70 percent of resources being allocated for in this regard were not spent for the last 10 years. No development expenditures were include din this 70 pc. He aid 66 percent women are hit by violence during pregnancy. He was of the view when policies will b e framed, our findings would help.
Ahsan Qureshi from Research and Development Solutions presenting the findings of the research study revealed that females faced sexual abuse upon resisting to sexual demands of their husbands.
Another study previously conducted by Rutgers WPF, reveals that 66% of women were victims of forced sexual violence. He said victim is always a woman. Victims and their actions are often blamed for inciting violence, headed.
?Instances of violence against pregnant women led to miscarriages, still births whereas some assaulted women were physically impaired? said Mr. Ahsan.
He further added, ?violence during pregnancy sometimes even resulted in disfigurement or mental disability in the new born.?
?In a violent household, the couple invests so much time in hating each other that they neglect their children.?
The research also reveals that Baluchistan also has a high rate of Gender Based Violence if women ask for her inheritance.
The speakers suggested that education, uplifting economic status of women, recognizing gender based violence as a community matter instead of treating it as individual affair of the victim, establishing a culture of dialogue and communication between husband and wife, denouncing any type of domestic violence and ensuring implementation of laws are key to end domestic violence in Pakistan.
