GEP launches five research studies on Gender Based Violence

ISLAMABAD: Aurat Foundation (AF), under its Gender Equity Program (GEP), launched five research studies on gender based violence on Monday that provide a comprehensive analysis of some crucial aspects of gender based violence GBV prevalent in Pakistani society.

The researches include A Primary Data Research Study on Domestic Violence by Sebcon; A Research Study on Internal Trafficking of Women and Girls in Pakistan by Maliha Hussein and Shazreh Hussain; A Primary Data Research Study on Customary Practices Leading to Gender Based Violence by Department of Gender Studies, University of Lahore; A Primary Data Research Study Sexual Harassment by Semiotics Consultants (Pvt) Limited and A Primary Data Research Study Social and Legal Responses to Rape by Naghma Imdad.

The Gender Equity Program (GEP) is a fundamental part of Aurat Foundation’s long-term commitment and action to serving the cause of women’s empowerment and advancement in Pakistan. GEP is a five-year USAID-supported grant-making program which aims to close the gender gap in Pakistan. Implemented with the collaboration of Asia Foundation, GEP strives to facilitate behavioral change, enable women to access information, resources and institutions, acquire control over their lives and improve societal attitudes towards women and their empowerment. Combating gender based violence is one of the four major objectives of GEP.

The research studies on GBV are part of GEPs efforts to pursue this objective that is directly linked with development of women in the country. Findings and recommendation of these studies have not only helped to assess the enormity and patterns of different forms of GBV prevalent in Pakistanis society, but have also proved to be an invaluable asset for GEP sub-grant cycles 6 that is designed to offer seamless service to victims and survivors of violence. They will also help in the design of grant cycle 8 which is on access to justice.

Speaking on this occasion, Agreement Officer Representative USAID Charles Cutshall said that in all societies, women and girls are subjected to physical, sexual and psychological violence. He said the first step of solving the problem is to identify the source. “The information in these studies must be used to advocate for better support and laws for women.” He said only youth can bring the desired change.

The research studies depict that almost 100 per cent respondents viewed domestic violence as a serious issue. The findings reveal that violence has long lasting effects on women and children and children often repeat the violence they see at home

In Primary Data Research Study on Customary Practices Leading to Gender Based Violence, 68 per cent respondents shared that early marriages, Watta Satta and honor killings are the most prevalent customary practice that leads to gender based violence. It shows that 64 per cent of the time, cases of GBV linked with customary practices are not filed with police.

The findings show that human trafficking is most likely to occur in areas where there is a concentration of illegal migrants or internally and externally displaced individuals owing to natural disasters or political and social conflicts. The factors that assist internal trafficking to thrive in Pakistan include criminal intent, financial gain, poverty, illiteracy, patriarchal views and injustices imbedded in deeply held beliefs and customs in context to women.

The Lahore Times Read more: http://www.lhrtimes.com/2013/02/26/research-studies-on-gender-based-violence/#ixzz2Mmt7QRx3
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