[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]In the first three months of 2023, Punjab witnessed a disturbingly high number of cases of violence against women, totaling over 10,000 incidents. Among the districts, Lahore had the highest concentration of cases. These findings were revealed in a report by the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO).
The report also highlighted the prevalence of violence against children in Punjab during the same period. There were 1,768 reported incidents targeting children, with an average of seven children falling victim to sexual abuse daily. The Punjab Police recorded a significant number of First Information Reports (FIRs) related to violence against women and children, raising serious concerns.
From January to April 2023, a total of 10,365 cases of violence against women and 1,768 cases of violence against children were officially reported to the police. However, the report suggests that these figures may underestimate the true extent of the issue due to underreporting caused by societal stigmas and a lack of trust in law enforcement.
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The report provided specific details about the types of crimes committed during this period. Kidnapping of women was the most frequently reported crime, with an average of two women being kidnapped every hour, resulting in 5,551 reported cases. Among the districts, Lahore had the highest number of kidnapping incidents.
Physical assault ranked as the next most prevalent crime, with Lahore again being the primary hotspot, experiencing 504 incidents. Rape and human trafficking were also significant issues, with 1,111 reported cases of rape and 613 cases of human trafficking. Once again, Lahore recorded the highest number of instances for both crimes.
Violence against women was not limited to public spaces but also occurred within private spaces. The report documented 219 cases of domestic violence, with Gujranwala having the highest number of incidents. Additionally, 53 cases of honor killings were reported.
Regarding violence against children, sexual violence was the most prevalent form, with 858 reported cases. Faisalabad and Lahore were identified as the districts with the highest number of such cases. Other crimes against children included human trafficking (221 cases), murder (48 cases), child labor (24 cases), and child marriage (4 cases). Notably, Chiniot had a significant number of reported human trafficking cases.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
