HRCP decries lack of redressal over violence against women, children in Punjab

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Tuesday expressed "grave concern over the bleak rate of conviction in relation to cases of violence against women and children in the Punjab province in 2024.

Quoting press reports, the HRCP said that only 924 suspects were convicted despite the number of cases registered being over 60,000.

The human rights body also stated that more than 2,300 suspects in cases pertaining to violence against women and children were acquitted, which has exposed deep flaws in investigations held by the police as well as the lack of accountability.

"This undermines Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s stated commitment to protecting vulnerable groups," HRCP said in its statement on X.

The human rights body also called for an urgent reform of police practices, prosecution procedures, and meaningful support for survivors seeking justice.

"This should include more effective trauma-informed and gender-sensitive investigation techniques, performance benchmarks for police officers based on the quality of investigations, expanded support systems for survivors and district-wise performance reports — accessible to the public — on prosecution and conviction rates," it maintained in its statement.

HRCP's statement on the dismal state of safety for women and children comes days after multiple cases of violence against women and children were reported across the country, particularly the widely-covered murder of teenage social media influencer Sana Yousaf.

The 17-year-old social media influencer was killed at her home in Islamabad on June 2, by a 22-year-old man who had forcefully and repeatedly pursued her online and resorted to violence after she rejected his advances.

The 22-year-old man, also a TikToker who spent hours loitering outside Sana's home, was arrested on suspicion of her murder within 24 hours after the crime.