PAKISTAN has moved towards outlawing domestic violence when lawmakers approved a bill that will punish those found guilty of beating women or children with jail terms and fines.
Domestic violence against women is not considered a major offence in our society. I hope this bill will provide protection to our women against all types of violence in their homes and living places,” Ms Rehman said.
The law was passed unanimously in the lower house of parliament or national assembly today, Yasmi Rehman from the main ruling Pakistan People’s Party said, hailing what she called a “big day” for Pakistani women.
It will come into effect after the senate, or upper house of parliament, approves the law and President Asif Ali Zardari signs it into legislation.
Those found guilty of beating women or children would face a minimum six months behind bars and a fine of at least 100,000 rupees ($1,431.46).
Laws typically reflect a society’s predominant values (yes, I know; that means Canadians don’t care nearly enough about abortion), and I for one am glad to see any country go from “not a major offence” to “crime punishable by jail” when it comes to domestic violence.
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Unanimous passage is a good thing, but Pakistan’s population is still largely rural – I would expect enforcement to vary a lot be region. Additionally, in a culture still so oppressive towards women, it’s going to be a life-ruining decision for any women to allow her husband to be prosecuted – her family would likely disown her, and she would have few options for an income without a husband to support her.
This is definate progress, but there is a long way to go yet.
It is very good and just that beating women and children is now a crime “punishable by jail” in Pakistan; why shouldn’t the killing of an unborn child also be a crime worthy of some jail time? Isn’t this crime just as bad? What was the punishment in Canada for the crime of abortion before 1969? Community service?
Jule, a little googling shows that abortion is already illegal in Pakistan, with a very narrow exception in cases in which abortion is required to save the life of a woman. I’m not sure of the sentencing though.
What does Canada have to do with this? I know this is a Canadian blog, but the article was on domestic violence law in Pakistan. I can see no direct connection between domestic violence law in Pakistan and abortion law in Canada.