Pakistan among most dangerous countries for women

A priest of the Camillian order in Pakistan has spoken out against the abuse of women in the country, including the growing number of â€œhonor killings.â€

According to Father Mushtaq Anjum, M.I., Pakistan â€œis one of the most dangerous countries in the world for women, who often have no voice.â€

â€œThe country needs very strong measures which can cover all kinds of violence committed against women,â€ the priest told Fides news agency in a recent interview. â€œThe rule of law should be there for them in order to protect them.â€

The latest findings from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan show a continued rise in the killing of women by their husbands or male relatives.

During 2011 at least 943 Pakistani women were murdered for supposedly bringing disgrace on their families. In some cases the women were raped as a form of punishment before being killed.

Honor killings have significantly increased every year in Pakistan since at least 2008, when 574 women were murdered for this motive. The number rose to 647 in 2009, and again to 791 the following year.

In 2011 and 2012, Pakistan’s parliament passed laws aimed at stopping abuses of women such as disfigurement with acid, forced marriage, and prevention of inheritance within families. [More]