(By: Nazia Naz (Defender & international researcher & human Rights)
(Publish from Houston Texas USA)
As a Defender deeply committed to human rights, “I am increasingly concerned about the state of women’s safety in Pakistan”. Despite years of advocacy, promises, and legal reforms, the reality on the ground remains deeply troubling. The alarming rise in Honor killings reflects not only a failure of protection but a failure of implementation. In this year alone, 146 cases of Honor killings have been officially registered across the country, yet countless more remain unreported due to fear, stigma, family pressure, and the absence of safe reporting mechanisms. These unreported cases represent the silent suffering of women whose lives are taken without any record, justice, or acknowledgment.
Pakistan has passed several laws to address violence against women, including legislation on Honor crimes, domestic violence, harassment, and gender-based violence. These laws, such as the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act on Honor killing, the Domestic Violence Prevention and Protection Acts at provincial levels, and workplace harassment laws, are important steps towards legal protection. However, the core issue is not the absence of laws but the absence of implementation. Women cannot be protected by laws that remain on paper. If police investigations are weak, if medical examinations are delayed, if courts do not prioritize gender-based crimes, and if cultural pressures silence witnesses, then even the strongest legal framework cannot save women’s lives.
The problem lies in the gap between legislation and lived experience. Many police stations are not trained to handle gender-sensitive cases; some officers discourage women from filing complaints or attempt “family settlements,” even in cases of Honor killings. Courts often take years to resolve cases, during which families manipulate evidence or pressure survivors. In rural areas, parallel systems like jirgas or panchayats continue to justify Honor killings as “tradition,” despite being illegal. When perpetrators know they can escape punishment, crimes continue with impunity. To truly protect women, Pakistan must move beyond symbolic reforms and focus on practical, ground-level implementation. This requires a coordinated effort between government departments, police, judiciary, civil society, and community leaders. Police must undergo training on gender sensitivity and human rights.
Safe reporting mechanisms, including women-friendly desks and helplines, must be strengthened. Survivors need access to shelters, legal aid, psychological support, and financial assistance. Media must report responsibly and highlight gaps that demand urgency. Education campaigns are essential to challenge harmful norms that justify violence in the name of “Honor.” The safety of women cannot be negotiable. Women are not property, and their lives cannot be traded for cultural approval or family reputation. A society that cannot protect its daughters, sisters, and mothers cannot claim progress. The rising cases of Honor killings are a national emergency that must be confronted with honesty, courage, and unwavering commitment. Pakistan has the laws it needs; now it needs the will to enforce them. Only then can we create a country where women live without fear and where justice is not the privilege of the few but the right of all.
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