70% of Gender-Based Violence Cases Go Unreported in KP
News Desk
Peshawar: Despite the prevalence of these issues, nearly 70 percent of gender-based violence cases remain unreported, while the courts have shown a weak response.
In 2025, only one conviction was secured out of 258 reported rape cases, reflecting a conviction rate of just 0.39 percent.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Human Rights Council of Pakistan (HRCP) released its 2025 annual report at a press conference held at the Peshawar Press Club on Saturday, highlighting a severe human rights crisis for women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
Central Chairman Jamshed Hussain and provincial President Izharuddin Khan said that around five percent of women in the province face violence daily.
The report also highlighted widespread sexual harassment in educational institutions, particularly at the University of Peshawar and Malakand University, where female students continue to face threats of harassment and gender-based violence.
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Online spaces are similarly unsafe. Approximately 160,000 cases of cybercrime and online harassment were reported in 2025, though officials warned that 30 to 40 percent of victims do not know how to report such incidents, suggesting that the actual number of cases is likely much higher.
The year was especially challenging for the transgender community, who faced targeted killings, torture, and forced displacement from areas including Swabi district.
HRCP further criticized the lack of political representation for women, noting that local women were denied their reserved seats in the provincial assembly.
Speakers, including Vice Chairperson Afshakiani and tribal representative Sakina Afridi, said that this exclusion contributes to a sense of deprivation among women in the province.
In response, HRCP urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly to enact strong and comprehensive laws to protect women, including the immediate approval of the KP Women Empowerment Policy, the creation of specific laws against acid attacks, and strict enforcement of domestic violence laws.
The Council also called on the provincial government to establish specialized units and dedicated funds to combat gender-based violence, ensuring that women have the legal and social empowerment necessary to secure their safety.
