2.1 Are there civil and criminal legal remedies for domestic violence victims?
According to a study carried out in 2009 by Human Rights Watch, it is estimated that between 70 and 90% of women in Pakistan have suffered some form of abuse. The majority of the victims of violence have no legal recourse. Law enforcement authorities do not view domestic violence as a crime and usually refuse to register any cases brought to them.[13]
2.2 Is domestic violence identified in national law as a human right (noting that at a European level protection from domestic violence has not been explicitly identified as a human right but is indirectly captured by the other provisions)?
N/A
2.3 Has your country signed and ratified the Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention (2011) preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (CETS No. 210)?
No.[14]
2.4 If it has ratified the Istanbul Convention, how has this convention been implemented into national law?
N/A
2.5 If it has not ratified or signed the Istanbul Convention, is it envisaged that your country will do so?
The country is working on putting measures in place. It appears that Pakistan is slowly progressing toward implementing measures to help protect women against the common types of violence in the area of domestic violence, such as rape, honor killings, acid attacks, etc.
2.6 If it has ratified the 1979 Convention, how has the recommendations part of General Comment No. 35 been implemented into national law?
N/A
2.7 If the 1979 Convention has not been ratified or signed, is it envisaged that your country will do so?
The 1979 Convention (CEDAW), which has been ratified by the government of Pakistan, obliges the state to take effective measures for curbing sex discrimination and the abuse/exploitation of women. In addition, Article 2 of CEDAW obliges the member states to take effective measures, both legislative and administrative, to end discrimination against women in all forms. Article 11 specifically calls for eliminating discrimination against women in the field of employment, thereby ensuring the right to work, free choice of joining a profession or employment, promotion, job security, equal remuneration, social security and other services and benefits.[15]