Sindh Reports 1,632 Cases of Violence Against Women

APP

Hyderabad: The Hari Welfare Association (HWA) has revealed that 1,632 cases of violence against women and girls were reported in Sindh, with the highest numbers recorded in rural districts.

According to a report released on International Women’s Day, Sanghar (160) and Khairpur (147) reported the most cases, followed by Dadu (116).

Karachi also recorded a significant number (107), but rural districts showed a notably higher prevalence of violence. Kashmore (30), Thatta (33), and Tando Muhammad Khan (31) reported the fewest cases, though they remain concerning.

The HWA highlighted a troubling trend of violence in rural areas, particularly among women engaged in agriculture, livestock, and fisheries. It noted that districts such as Sanghar, Khairpur, and Dadu face unique challenges, including entrenched tribal and feudal systems, lack of law enforcement, low literacy rates, and limited public awareness.

Among the 1,632 reported cases, murder (163) and honor killings (119) were the most prevalent forms of violence. Additionally, numerous suicide cases were reported, but many were suspected to be homicides, with causes often misreported or under-investigated.

HWA President Akram Ali Khaskheli described the situation of women’s rights in Sindh as extremely concerning. He stressed that hundreds of women lose their lives each year due to honor killings, property disputes, and domestic violence.

He urged the government to take immediate action by establishing more schools for girls in Sindh to ensure access to education. He also called for the strict enforcement of the Sindh Child Marriages Restraint Act (2013) and the Sindh Bonded Labour System Abolition Act (2015).

The HWA, along with the Sindh Agriculture Workers Federation of Rural Women Trade Unions, emphasized that although laws exist for the protection and empowerment of women and girls, their implementation remains weak.

They demanded that peasant and working women be organized into unions under the Sindh Industrial Relations Act (2013) and the Sindh Agriculture Women Workers Act (2019).