Abstract:
Gender-based violence (GBV) is still a core human rights concern of the world
since it targets minority female persons. Although there are many internationally
recognized laws against GBV include the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(UDHR), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women (CEDAW), and the Istanbul Convention, it is regrettably evident
that there is poor national-level commitment. In this thesis, the Pakistan’s GBV
legal framework is explored from a feminist approach in consideration of its
compliance with the international standards; legal and implementation gaps.
This study uses a non-doctrinal feminist critique research methodology to
critique and assess Pakistan’s domestic laws; among them are the Prevention of
Anti-Women Practices Act (2011), the Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention
Act (2011), the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act (2013), and
the Anti-Honor Killing Bill (2016) by using international human rights laws and
standards. It was identified that, despite, legislature-related improvements in
Pakistan, lack of enforcement, social prejudices, primal gender stereotype
sentiments, and no institutional pressure affects the execution process. Some or
most survivors are denied justice and equality through issues such as corrupt
police, slow justice system, victims’ blaming, and limited resources such as legal
aid and shelters.
The study reveals that legal reforms and protections for women are irregularities,
insufficient gender sensitivity in law implementation, and cultural rationales for
abuse as the major barriers. To this end, it calls for legal, institutional and social
change such as passing a GBV specific law, the setting up of courts that handle
such cases, effective polices on handling GBV cases, organizations , programs
that support survivors of GBV and nationwide campaigns for changes on the
same. In contributing to the existing debates of gender justice and legal reforms,
this study reveals loophole of GBV legislation in Pakistan and-art and with
reference to the international frameworks. This study therefore serves to show the
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need for policy and cultural shift in order to end GBV. Finally, this study
recommends for the use of legal, institutional and societal strategies as a way of
eliminating GBV in Pakistan.
