In the wake of Pakistani dictator General-Zia-ul-Haq’s Islamization process (1977-1988), the coun... more In the wake of Pakistani dictator General-Zia-ul-Haq’s Islamization process (1977-1988), the country experienced an unprecedented tilt towards religious fundamentalism. This initiated judicial transformations that brought in rigid Islamic Sharia laws that impacted women’s freedoms and participation in the public sphere, and gender-specific curbs and policies on the pretext of implementing a religious identity. This suffocating environment that eroded women’s rights in particular through a recourse to politicization of religion also saw the emergence of equally strong resistance, particularly by women who, for the first time in Pakistan’s history, grouped and mobilized an organized activist women’s movement to challenge Zia’s oppressive laws and authoritarian regime. This movement was to see the emergence of non-governmental women’s organizations (NGOs), feminist writers, activist theatre groups, human rights and legal aid cells, as well as activist documentary filmmakers with a comm...
Extreme forms of physical and sexual violence perpetrated by men against women such as honour-kil... more Extreme forms of physical and sexual violence perpetrated by men against women such as honour-killings, acid-attacks, and rape continue to plague Pakistani society despite countrywide resistance by women's rights groups, civil society activists, and continued pressure on successive governments to address the menace, and introduce stringent laws into the criminal justice system to check the situation. As this menace continues unabated, it is pertinent to examine the underlying male mindsets that cause these acts of violence to be committed. This paper presents feminist perspectives on male attitudes and mindsets that instigate male physical and sexual violence against women. In conclusion, the paper discusses the various activist organizations and measures that have been instrumental in highlighting violence against women in Pakistan, and the need for stringent measures to curtail the menace, and keep checks on the gender-biased law-enforcement system. Resumen: Las formas extremas de violencia física y sexual perpetrada por los hombres contra las mujeres, tales como homicidios causados por la defensa del honor, ataques con áci-dos y violaciones, continúan extendiéndose por la sociedad paquistaní, al margen de la resis-tencia ejercida por todo el país por grupos en defensa de los derechos de las mujeres, y por los activistas de la sociedad civil, que continúan presionado a los sucesivos gobiernos para que se enfrenten a la amenaza e introduzcan leyes estrictas en el ámbito de la justicia criminal para terminar con la situación. Como esta amenaza continúa avanzando, es pertinente examinar la mentalidad masculina que origina que estos actos de violencia sean cometidos. Este trabajo presenta una perspectiva feminista de estas actitudes y mentalidades masculinas que instigan la violencia física y sexual de los hombres contra las mujeres. Perspectiva feminista en la violencia física y sexual contra la mujer: el caso de Paquistán
During recent decades the women of Pakistan have been the most vulnerable and convenient targets ... more During recent decades the women of Pakistan have been the most vulnerable and convenient targets of social, domestic and sexual violence. This paper will examine the trend of sexual violence against women that emerged in Pakistan with the introduction of the Islamization process through the implementation of the Sharia laws since1979. The paper's main focus will be on rape and the state legislation that governs it, namely the Zina Hudood Ordinance of 1979 and the Law of Evidence of 1984, and how the gender-discriminatory nature of these laws serves as a powerful weapon in the hands of the patriarchal society of Pakistan to subjugate women. These laws and their rigid interpretation in the name of Islam have not only facilitated oppression and sexual violence against women to an alarming degree in Pakistan, but also seriously eroded women's chances of equal justice. The factors that led to the implementation and survival of such laws in the first place, and consequently how rape became a daunting weapon against women, will be discussed. The paper will analyze the various political, social, cultural and religious factors that contribute to this situation, and the legal and social complexities involved for women in seeking justice in rape cases. In conclusion, the paper will discuss Pakistani women's initiative in evolving and building an organized resistance and struggle for the repeal of gender discriminatory laws.
In the wake of Pakistani dictator General-Zia-ul-Haq’s Islamization process (1977-1988), the coun... more In the wake of Pakistani dictator General-Zia-ul-Haq’s Islamization process (1977-1988), the country experienced an unprecedented tilt towards religious fundamentalism. This initiated judicial transformations that brought in rigid Islamic Sharia laws that impacted women’s freedoms and participation in the public sphere, and gender-specific curbs and policies on the pretext of implementing a religious identity. This suffocating environment that eroded women’s rights in particular through a recourse to politicization of religion also saw the emergence of equally strong resistance, particularly by women who, for the first time in Pakistan’s history, grouped and mobilized an organized activist women’s movement to challenge Zia’s oppressive laws and authoritarian regime. This movement was to see the emergence of non-governmental women’s organizations (NGOs), feminist writers, activist theatre groups, human rights and legal aid cells, as well as activist documentary filmmakers with a comm...
Extreme forms of physical and sexual violence perpetrated by men against women such as honour-kil... more Extreme forms of physical and sexual violence perpetrated by men against women such as honour-killings, acid-attacks, and rape continue to plague Pakistani society despite countrywide resistance by women's rights groups, civil society activists, and continued pressure on successive governments to address the menace, and introduce stringent laws into the criminal justice system to check the situation. As this menace continues unabated, it is pertinent to examine the underlying male mindsets that cause these acts of violence to be committed. This paper presents feminist perspectives on male attitudes and mindsets that instigate male physical and sexual violence against women. In conclusion, the paper discusses the various activist organizations and measures that have been instrumental in highlighting violence against women in Pakistan, and the need for stringent measures to curtail the menace, and keep checks on the gender-biased law-enforcement system. Resumen: Las formas extremas de violencia física y sexual perpetrada por los hombres contra las mujeres, tales como homicidios causados por la defensa del honor, ataques con áci-dos y violaciones, continúan extendiéndose por la sociedad paquistaní, al margen de la resis-tencia ejercida por todo el país por grupos en defensa de los derechos de las mujeres, y por los activistas de la sociedad civil, que continúan presionado a los sucesivos gobiernos para que se enfrenten a la amenaza e introduzcan leyes estrictas en el ámbito de la justicia criminal para terminar con la situación. Como esta amenaza continúa avanzando, es pertinente examinar la mentalidad masculina que origina que estos actos de violencia sean cometidos. Este trabajo presenta una perspectiva feminista de estas actitudes y mentalidades masculinas que instigan la violencia física y sexual de los hombres contra las mujeres. Perspectiva feminista en la violencia física y sexual contra la mujer: el caso de Paquistán
During recent decades the women of Pakistan have been the most vulnerable and convenient targets ... more During recent decades the women of Pakistan have been the most vulnerable and convenient targets of social, domestic and sexual violence. This paper will examine the trend of sexual violence against women that emerged in Pakistan with the introduction of the Islamization process through the implementation of the Sharia laws since1979. The paper's main focus will be on rape and the state legislation that governs it, namely the Zina Hudood Ordinance of 1979 and the Law of Evidence of 1984, and how the gender-discriminatory nature of these laws serves as a powerful weapon in the hands of the patriarchal society of Pakistan to subjugate women. These laws and their rigid interpretation in the name of Islam have not only facilitated oppression and sexual violence against women to an alarming degree in Pakistan, but also seriously eroded women's chances of equal justice. The factors that led to the implementation and survival of such laws in the first place, and consequently how rape became a daunting weapon against women, will be discussed. The paper will analyze the various political, social, cultural and religious factors that contribute to this situation, and the legal and social complexities involved for women in seeking justice in rape cases. In conclusion, the paper will discuss Pakistani women's initiative in evolving and building an organized resistance and struggle for the repeal of gender discriminatory laws.
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