Alarming Rise in Violence Against Women in Sindh

News Desk

Islamabad: More than 900 cases of violence against women and children were reported across Sindh during the first four months of 2023, highlighting the continuing vulnerability of women and children to abuse, according to data compiled by the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO).

The report, based on information obtained from the Sindh police through a Right to Information request under Article 19-A of the Constitution, recorded 771 cases involving violence against women and 142 cases involving children between January and April 2023.

Among crimes against women, domestic violence accounted for 119 reported cases, while 56 rape cases and 37 honour-killing cases were registered during the period. The figures, however, may represent only a fraction of the actual scale of the problem, as social stigma and other barriers often discourage victims and families from approaching the police.

Karachi Central, Hyderabad and Keamari were identified as major hotspots for violence against women, recording 63, 58 and 54 cases respectively.

The situation involving children was equally concerning, with **sexual violence emerging as the most frequently reported offence**, accounting for 67 cases. Police also registered 41 cases of child kidnapping, along with 16 cases of child marriage and 14 cases of child labour.

Karachi South recorded the highest number of reported crimes against children at 21 cases, followed by Keamari with 16 and Karachi West with 13.

SSDO Executive Director Syed Kausar Abbas said the figures were intended to draw attention to the growing incidence of violence against women and children and stressed the need for stronger institutional action.

He called for greater attention from the media, government, police and judiciary to ensure that such cases are investigated and resolved promptly and that perpetrators are brought to justice.

The SSDO noted that the figures should also be viewed in the context of widespread underreporting, meaning the actual number of incidents could be considerably higher than the cases reflected in official police records.