Women’s Rights in Pakistan: Navigating Legal, Social and Cultural Barriers to Gender Equality
Keywords:
Hudood Ordinances, Islamization, Zia-ul-Haq, UNSECO, Gender Gap, Women's Action ForumAbstract
With investigating the multilayered landscape of women’s rights in Pakistan, this paper examines the persistent challenges that impede gender equality despite legislative advancements. Despite the existence of progressive laws, a significant portion of women in Pakistan face pervasive discrimination and violence, with statistics indicating that 70% endure physical or emotional abuse (UNICEF, 2020). The entrenched patriarchal norms and deep-seated gender stereotypes perpetuate systemic inequalities, severely limiting women’s opportunities in education, employment and political engagement (Hussain, 2019). Furthermore, the effective implementation and enforcement of crucial legislation, such as the Protection of Women Against Violence Act (2016), remain inadequate, exacerbating the plight of women across the country (Khan, 2020). This paper aims to critically analyze these challenges, offering insights into potential pathways for policy reform and societal change to advance gender equity in Pakistan.
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