Religion, Culture and Tradition: No Excuse for Violence
Prominent cleric terms the "Protection of Women against violence Bill 2015" as "Un-Islamic".
Dunya News Report (Humaira Sajid)
ISLAMABAD – The Punjab Assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed the long-awaited Protection of Women against violence Bill 2015, explicitly pronouncing physical violence, abusive language, stalking, cyber crimes etc against women as crime.
Protection of Women against violence Bill 2015 is crafted by Chief Minister’s Special Monitoring Unit’s senior member Salman Sufi and different concerned authorities after holding numerous meetings to thoroughly address and incorporate all reservations of members of civil society, leaders of the opposition, and members of the committee.
The bill details lay out introduction to the initiatives like Violence Against Women Centers (VAWCs) in all districts, court orders (residence, protection and monetary orders), introduction of GPS tracked electronic bracelets-anklets to enforce protection orders, power to force enter any place to rescue the women victims, and encompassing cyber crimes, domestic violence, emotional, economic and psychological abuse within the ambit of ‘violence against women’ crimes.
Under the new law toll-free universal access number (UAN) will be issued to receive complaints while district protection committee will be established to investigate complaints filed by women. Moreover, centers will also be set up for reconciliation and resolution of disputes. Furthermore, the law will not allow an aggrieved woman to be forced out of her house. The defendant can be made to leave the house for two days, according to the law.
Dar-ul-Aman and protection centers will be setup according to the passed law. These shelter homes will be built for the protection of aggrieved women, which will provide boarding and lodging facilities to the victim and children (if any).
The 2015 Bill was passed after carrying some eight amendments from the treasury, while the male members of the opposition did not join the bill proceedings and remained absent from the House female members participated and alleged that their male colleagues had resentments over the bill.
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah moved the bill, assuring the House that his government would support if a private member would like to amend the bill but it should fully be implemented and practiced in the province first.
Nearly half of the total population in Pakistan comprises women yet they continue to be victims of gender based violence, early and forced child marriages as well as basic right to education, access to health and political participation is also denied.
According to the Human Rights Watch, gender-based violence occurs as a cause and consequence of gender inequities. It includes a range of violent acts mainly committed by men against women, within the context of the subordinate status of females in a society, which seeks to preserve.
However, as important as it is the Women Protection Bill already faces antagonism from various prominent clerics who are reacting to the latest development. Chief of Jamia Binoria International Mufti Muhammad Naeem said in a statement notwithstanding the laws of the bill that it was contrary to teachings of Holy Quran and Sunnah. Terming the bill a bid to suppress men at the hands of women, he said violence against women can be controlled by giving them rights allocated by Islamic Sharia.
Mufti Naeem strongly opposed the bill and expressed his concerns over it calling it a ‘tragedy’.
The Quran, on the other hand, clearly spells out no less than sixteen fundamental rights of individuals in gender-neutral language, as corroborated by scholars such as Maudoodi. Islam s mandate of equality between women and men necessitates that all forms of violence against women be eradicated, for so long as women suffer abuses, women cannot achieve their full potential as free and equal members of society.
These rights were granted several centuries before the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNDHR) and were equally applicable to both men as well as women. Several international human rights instruments on the other hand refer only to men or the male sex.
Pia Ucar, who is a part of Shirkat Gah Women’s Resource Centre in Lahore, said violence is no private matter but rather requires public attention and punishment for the perpetrator. Many cases remain unreported both due to stigmatization and lack of trust in official processes. Doubts remains with regard to efficacy as well as confidentiality of the protection and prosecution structures in place. Especially in rural areas, forums for complaints are often simply out of physical reach for those suffering from domestic violence, she added.
Keeping in view all of the above, it is need of time that structures are set in an accurate place and within easy reach, which allow women to file complaints without any fear of potential negative social consequences for themselves or their children. Pia Ucar said police officials need to take complaints seriously and take them further without delay, while women have to be aware of the rights they have and how to effectively access them.
