Due to an increase in rape cases, Punjab in Pakistan will declare a "emergency."

Violence against women is pervasive in Pakistan and affects all socioeconomic classes. Pakistan has been suffering and fighting a gender violence epidemic.

Islamabad: In response to a sharp rise in the number of reported cases of sexual assault against women and children, the Punjab province of Pakistan has decided to declare a "emergency."
Punjab Home Minister Atta Tarar stated that an increase in these incidents was a serious concern for society and government officials during a press conference on Monday.

He was quoted by Geo News as saying, "Four to five cases of rape are being reported daily in Punjab, as a result, the government is considering special measures to deal with cases of sexual harassment, abuse, and coercion."

He said, "The administration has declared an emergency to deal with rape cases.

The minister announced that the issue would be discussed with members of civil society, groups supporting women's rights, educators, and lawyers. In addition, he urged parents to stress the value of safety to their kids.

The government has started an anti-rape campaign, the accused in several cases have been detained, and students will be warned about harassment in schools, according to Tarar.

The home minister said that now is the perfect time for parents to get protective parenting training. He said that the government would quickly increase the number of DNA samples.

In two weeks, he said, "a system on abuse will be implemented, reducing the incidents.

Violence against women is pervasive in Pakistan and affects all socioeconomic classes. Pakistan has been suffering and fighting a gender violence epidemic.
According to the Global Gender Gap Index 2021 rankings, Pakistan comes in at number 153 out of 156 nations, just ahead of Iraq, Yemen, and Afghanistan.

According to a report in the International Forum for Rights and Security (IFFRAS), Punjab reported the highest number of women in Pakistan over the past four years at 14,456.

Women's workplace harassment, domestic violence against women, and other forms of discrimination against women have also been prevalent.

The Human Rights Ministry document stated that "the 5,048 cases of workplace harassment of women and violence against women reported in the country during 2018 were followed by 4,751 cases in 2019, 4,276 cases in 2020, and 2,078 cases in 2021."

In accordance with the opinions of human rights activists, attorneys, and survivors, IFFRAS stated that overlapping legal systems punctured with loopholes and deeply ingrained patriarchy in the society work together to ensure that women survivors of violence are unlikely to receive justice.

Nayab Gohar Jan, a well-known rights activist, declared in May that "the entire process from the moment a crime is committed against a woman to registering it with the police — and then the court procedure — is structured in such a way that justice remains elusive."