HRF Submits Pakistan Report to UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women

NEW YORK (January 23, 2012) – The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) has submitted a legal report to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women that examines Pakistan's shortcomings in meeting its obligation to prevent violence against women.

Although Pakistan has ratified and passed legislation to eliminate violence and discrimination, women continue to be victims of honor killings, forced marriages, and rape as a form of retribution—crimes that are largely unpunished.

"Women in Pakistan are systematically deprived of the universal rights to which every human being is entitled," said Thor Halvorssen, president of HRF. "The legislation passed in Pakistan is a hollow gesture, essentially a written commitment with little to no follow through or enforcement," said Halvorssen.

HRF's legal report defines the standard of due diligence that states must demonstrate when addressing violence against women. The report describes the achievements and challenges Pakistan has encountered in attempting to fulfill its obligation under the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The report examines the reasons why honor crimes continue and are even sanctioned by tribal councils.

The report finds that Pakistan must make a significant effort to ensure that legislation to prevent violence and discrimination against women is enforced at all levels; that government and civil society programs are effectively implemented, with an important focus on rural areas; and that education about universal rights and equal protection under the law reaches men and women alike.

"To fully comply with its due diligence obligations under CEDAW, Pakistan must not only take steps aimed at preventing violence against women, but must also effectively investigate all cases, prosecute those responsible, and adequately compensate the victims," said Javier El-Hage, general counsel of HRF. "We hope the UN Special Rapporteur finds our report helpful in evaluating the appropriate due diligence standard to which all states should adhere to end this abominable reality."

HRF is a nonprofit nonpartisan organization that protects and promotes human rights globally, with an expertise in the Americas. We believe that all human beings are entitled to freedom of self-determination, freedom from tyranny, the rights to speak freely, to associate with those of like mind, and to leave and enter their countries. Individuals in a free society must be accorded equal treatment and due process under law, and must have the opportunity to participate in the governments of their countries; HRF's ideals likewise find expression in the conviction that all human beings have the right to be free from arbitrary detainment or exile and from interference and coercion in matters of conscience. HRF does not support nor condone violence. HRF's International Council includes former prisoners of conscience Vladimir Bukovsky, Palden Gyatso, Mutabar Tadjibaeva, Ramón J. Velásquez, Elie Wiesel, and Harry Wu.

Contact: Javier El-Hage, Human Rights Foundation, (212) 246.8486, info@thehrf.org

Read the legal report sent by HRF to the UN Special Rapporteur here.

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