ISLAMABAD:
Through the simple yet powerful gesture of distributing orange scarves as a symbol of solidarity against gender-based violence, Chairperson Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri reaffirmed, during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights, that every voice matters and every life is sacred.
The meeting was convened for further deliberation on a motion moved by Senator Sherry Rehman under Rule 218, which had highlighted the alarming rise in cases of gender-based violence (GBV), along with the administrative and systemic challenges impeding effective redress.
The meeting was attended by Senators Syed Masroor Ahsan, Quratulain Marri, Sherry Rehman, Poonjo Bheel, Khalil Tahir and Attaul Haq. The Secretary of the Ministry of Human Rights, along with senior officials from relevant departments, was also present.
At the outset, Chairperson Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri stressed that gender-based violence must be recognised not merely as a criminal offence, but also as a grave mental health crisis, disproportionately affecting women and children. She noted that children raised in violent domestic environments often grow up with deep psychological trauma, perpetuating cycles of violence across generations.
She emphasised that police stations and prosecutorial systems must move beyond procedural formalities to provide victim-centred and trauma-informed environments, ensuring emotional safety and dignity, particularly for survivors.
Expressing grave concern over the persistently low conviction rate — hovering at approximately four per cent — the Chairperson questioned the effectiveness of the justice system despite decades of legislation and reform.
She stated that the continued insecurity of women and girls reflected not only personal tragedies but a collective failure of state responsibility and social justice. Justice, she asserted, could not depend solely on the resilience or resources of victims and their families; rather, robust state mechanisms for protection, support and accountability were indispensable.
Senator Sherry Rehman drew attention to the unacceptably low conviction rates in cases of sexual assault, so-called honour killings and abduction. She highlighted the pervasive culture of victim-blaming and the gap between legislation and implementation, calling for comprehensive audits of investigation and prosecution processes, mandatory recording of statements, and stronger safeguards against out-of-court settlements in serious GBV cases.
