January 16, 2025
By Bilal Baseer
ISLAMABAD
The Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR) in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), hosted a program on Thursday, January 16, on gender based violence (GBV). Titled “Building Digital Safety: A National Policy Response to Tech-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence”, the session tackled the growing issue of online GBV and explored actionable solutions.
The event was attended by eminent speakers including government officials, legal experts, activists and civil society representatives, to discuss the impact of online harassment on women in Pakistan and outline the measures to create safer digital environments.
Van Nguyen, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Pakistan, in her opening remarks emphasized their commitment to eradicating GBV in Pakistan. While highlighting the alarming prevalence of online GBV, she stressed the need for collective efforts from government institutions and civil society to address the issue.
Nguyen proposed awareness campaigns in educational institutions, starting with schools and universities and extending to rural areas. She noted that online GBV not only compromised the safety of marginalized groups like women, but also adversely affected their ability to work and participate in society.
The program highlighted that approximately 40 percent of women in Pakistan have experienced online harassment and violence, and nearly 70 percent of female students have faced various forms of digital abuse. Alarmingly, around 20 percent of these students have dropped out of their educational institutions as a result. Women journalists, human rights defenders, and politicians also remain frequent targets of online threats which impact their professional lives.
The event also included discussions on the role of law enforcement agencies in combating gender based violence through technology. Speakers identified gaps in the enforcement of existing legal frameworks and called for specialized training programs for officers and prosecutors to handle such cases effectively.
Ayesha Raza Farooq, Chairperson of the National Commission on the Rights of Children (NCRC), discussed the urgent need for a comprehensive national strategy to curb violence enabled by technology. Various panel discussions highlighted critical topics, including women’s rights, the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies, and the accountability of social media platforms.
A.D Khwaja, the Federal Secretary for MoHR, stressed the importance of extending these initiatives to rural areas to ensure grassroots-level awareness. He acknowledged that while Pakistan has a legal framework to address GBV, its implementation remains a challenge. He called for public-private partnerships and government-led training programs to address this gap effectively.
Rabia Javeri Agha, Chairperson of the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), emphasized the importance of empowering women with knowledge about their rights. She stated that eliminating gender-based violence through technology would require all stakeholders to accept collective responsibility and take concerted actions.
Munizae Jahangir, Co-Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and a senior journalist, spoke about the challenges women face when expressing themselves online. She highlighted the increasing complexity of online violence, including threats and mental abuse, and raised concerns about the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) alleged involvement in serious violations while failing to resolve cases of online harassment.
“I commend NCHR, led by Rabiya Javeri, which recently highlighted the business of blasphemy that was happening online,” she said. “It was taking place using methods of honey trapping and as a result hundreds of young people have been imprisoned. Their families have been approached for money through extortion. The report from NCHR reveals that FIA officials are collaborating with private agents,” she said.
Jahangir questioned why this had not been investigated, and why there had been no inquiry into these matters? On one hand, the FIA claims to have limited resources, but on the other, it pursued politically motivated cases. It has been alarming how these limited resources are being utilized, particularly in cases of extortion and what was being referred to as the blasphemy business racket in which FIA officials are involved.
Digital rights activist Usama Khilji criticized laws intended to protect women’s rights, arguing that they often serve the interests of state representatives rather than citizens. He pointed out that these laws have failed to address the rights of ordinary citizens while granting privileges and exemptions to selective people.
Despite the dire situation in the country, participants at the event expressed optimism saying that increased collaboration among the government, civil society, and international organizations could lead to the creation of a safer and more inclusive digital environment for women.