{"id":55785,"date":"2025-12-02T20:18:45","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T20:18:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/?p=55785"},"modified":"2025-12-02T20:22:44","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T20:22:44","slug":"united-nations-marks-16-days-of-activism-against-gender-based-violence-in-pakistan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/united-nations-marks-16-days-of-activism-against-gender-based-violence-in-pakistan\/","title":{"rendered":"United Nations marks \u201916 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence\u2019 in Pakistan"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Five events, coupled with \u2018Seen & Unseen\u2019 Art exhibition, alert on intensification of digital violence against women and girls<\/strong><\/p>\n

ISLAMABAD, December 2nd<\/sup>, 2025\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 Today, the United Nations in Pakistan marked the \u201916 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence\u2019 by calling\u00a0for urgent global action against digital violence\u00a0during an event at Islamabad\u2019s Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA). It\u00a0alerted on the need to\u00a0adapt\u00a0the legislation\u00a0to evolving technologies\u00a0as\u00a0nearly half of the world\u2019s women and girls lack legal protection from digital abuse.<\/p>\n

The event, chaired\u00a0by the\u00a0Federal Minister for Human Rights,\u00a0Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar,\u00a0in presence of UN Women Regional Director, Christine Arab,\u00a0also marked the opening of \u2018Seen & Unseen\u2019, an Art exhibition featuring renowned Pakistani artists,\u00a0with Prof. Salima Hashmi as Honorary Advisor.\u00a0It was part of a series of four other UN\u00a0events that discussed how\u00a0to keep women and girls safe online, and empower them to lead and shape the digital future,\u00a0in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Quetta.<\/p>\n

\u201cTechnology has transformed the nature of abuse, and our laws, institutions, and social responses must evolve accordingly,\u201d said Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, Federal Minister for Human Rights<\/strong> and Chief Guest, at the Islamabad event. \u201cThe Government of Pakistan is committed to strengthening legal protections, expanding access to justice, and ensuring that every woman and girl can participate in society\u2014online and offline\u2014with safety, dignity, and equality.\u201d<\/p>\n

The five events\u00a0brought together the Government, law enforcement, the legislature, and civil society, together\u00a0with\u00a0IOM, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNIC, UNICEF, UNESCO, UN WOMEN, and WHO.\"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

They took place in\u00a0Punjab Safe City Authorities in Lahore on 25 November, Governor House in Quetta on 27 November, Peshawar Stadium on 1\u00a0December, and PNCA Islamabad on 2 December, with support from Marriott Islamabad. The fifth event will take place at State Bank of Pakistan Museum in Karachi on 4 December.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>During the 16 Days of Activism, we must invest in the vision and leadership of young people,\u201d said\u00a0Christine Arab, UN Women Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific<\/strong>. \u201cWhen innovation is shaped by gender equality, we create digital spaces where women and girls are not just included, but protected, empowered and able to thrive,\u201d she added as she launched\u00a0UN Women\u2019s Firewall Feminist Lab.<\/p>\n

Digital violence is spreading at an alarming speed fueled by artificial intelligence, anonymity, and a lack of effective laws and accountability. It comes under many forms — online harassment, cyberstalking, doxing, non-consensual image sharing, deep fakes, and disinformation. Digital abuse can spill into real life, sometimes leading to physical violence.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe digital world promised connection and empowerment. Yet for millions of women and girls across the world, it has become a minefield of harassment and abuse,\u201d said Pernille\u00a0Ironside, Acting UN Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator.\"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe cannot let online platforms become yet another space where women and girls are silenced, shamed, and intimidated — in Pakistan or across the world. We must urgently adapt the legislation to evolving technologies, and end the impunity of both perpetrators and online platforms. Just like the offline world, the online world should not threaten women and girls, but help them thrive. There is no excuse for online abuse.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the event, UNDP and UNPFA introduced their work around digital and technology-facilitated gender-based violence; IOM shared testimonies of survivors; UNFPA launched its new Reels \u2018Salma Lives\u2019 about child marriage; and WHO shared its perspective on the clinical and health impact of gender-based violence.<\/p>\n

The United Nations calls for:<\/strong> 1)\u00a0Global cooperation\u00a0to ensure digital platforms and AI tools meet safety and ethics standards; 2)\u00a0Support for survivors\u00a0of digital violence by funding women\u2019s rights organizations; 3)\u00a0Holding perpetrators accountable\u00a0through better laws and enforcement; 4)\u00a0Tech companies to step up\u00a0<\/strong>by hiring more women to create safer online spaces, removing harmful content quickly, and responding to reports of abuse; 5)\u00a0Investments in prevention and culture change\u00a0<\/strong>through digital literacy and online safety training for women and girls, and programmes that challenge toxic online cultures.<\/p>\n

According to\u00a0World Bank data,<\/strong> fewer than 40 per cent of countries have laws protecting women from cyber harassment or cyber stalking. This leaves 44 per cent of the world\u2019s women and girls \u2013 1.8 billion \u2013 without access to legal protection. Reporting of online abuse and violence remains low, justice systems are ill-equipped, and online platforms face little accountability.<\/p>\n

No Excuse to Online Abuse ! Female Ambassadors Serving in Islamabad Gather to Raise Awareness<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n