European Union warns Pakistan of failure to stop atrocities against women

Brussels – The EU parliament has strongly reprimanded Pakistan, who is infamous in the world for honour killings, abduction and torture of women and acid attacks on women. The EU parliament suggested to Pakistan that the government should take immediate steps to protect women against violence and the secondary treatment meted out to them. The European Union and its parliament have warned to withdraw the facilities given to Pakistan if it failed to implement this.

Thousands of women are victims of honour killing and violence. As per the information given by the Pakistan Human Rights Commission, last year at least 5,000 women were the victims of honour killing. Pakistan has initiated steps against this, since the last few months. But the European Union has pointed out that it is necessary that Pakistan initiated tough measures against discrimination and violence against girls and women. The EU parliament drew attention to the fact that Ishaq Khakwani, a Former Minister in the Imran Khan government, had criticised the government over this issue.

At the same time, Child marriage is the biggest problem in Pakistan. Pakistan has not made any legislation against this. Discussions on this matter were held, between the EU and Pakistan, in 2019. But Pakistan has not reacted on this, till date, and the EU parliament lashed out that the Imran Khan government should submit its clarification by September.

Meanwhile, in May, an eight-year-old girl had been killed in Pakistan. She was a child labourer. She was tortured and remorselessly killed at the place of work. Thereafter, a wave of anger erupted in Pakistan over the exploitation of child labourers. European Union also has taken up this issue. Thereafter, Pakistan Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari assured to formulate tough legislations against Child labour. But Pakistan has not succeeded in taking any steps in this matter. Against this background, the EU parliament expressed concerns over the state of child labour in Pakistan. Saying that there are nearly 19 million child labourers in Pakistan, a country grappling with poverty and unemployment, the EU parliament lambasted Pakistan over the exploitation of child labourers.