Pakistan: Human Rights Commission Reports Increase in "Honor" Killings
Figures provided by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) indicate that "honor" killings are on the rise in Pakistan. HRCP documented 600 such murders in 2009 and 791 in 2010. And, in the first 9 months of 2011, 675 women have died due to "honor" killings. While public awareness of women's rights has risen and new laws protecting those rights have recently been passed, violence nevertheless has increased. Zaman Khan of HRCP attributes this in part to the influence of conservative, rural traditions on urban populations.
Compiled from: Siddique, Abubakar, Honor Killings on the Rise in Pakistan, Radio Free Europe: Radio Liberty (21 December 2011).
For More Information:
See the What's New articles "Pakistan: Bill Outlaws 'Bartering' Women" (07 December 2011), "Pakistan: Unanimous Support for Bill Protecting Women's Rights" (23 November 2011), as well as the Sexual Assault and the Crimes Committed in the Name of "Honor" pages of this website.
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