KARACHI: Pakistani authorities, women’s rights advocates and the United Nations have pledged to strengthen coordinated efforts to combat honour killings and other gender-related killings of women and girls, amid continued concern over the persistence of such crimes across the country.
The commitment was reaffirmed during a consultation organized by the Ministry of Human Rights and UN Women Pakistan, in collaboration with the Sindh Human Rights Department and the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women.
The consultation brought together federal and provincial government representatives, members of the justice sector, medico-legal experts, civil society organizations, development partners and women’s rights advocates to discuss strategies for preventing femicide, enhancing accountability and improving access to justice for victims and survivors.
Participants expressed their deep concern over the continued prevalence of violence against women and girls, particularly killings committed under the pretext of family or community “honour”.
Despite legislative reforms and increased awareness campaigns, hundreds of such incidents continue to be reported each year, while many more are believed to go unreported.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajvir Singh Sodha, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh on Human Rights, emphasized the province’s commitment to protecting women and girls.
“The Government of Sindh has consistently demonstrated its commitment to safeguarding the rights of women and girls through progressive legislation, institutional reforms and strategic partnerships,” he said.
“However, laws alone are not enough. We must strengthen implementation, ensure accountability for perpetrators and foster a culture where violence against women and girls is neither tolerated nor justified.”
Chairperson of the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women, Rubina Brohi, underscored that there could be no justification for crimes committed in the name of so-called honour.
“We must strengthen implementation of existing laws, ensure accountability for perpetrators and collectively challenge the harmful social norms that continue to place women and girls at risk,” she said.
Abdul Khaliq Sheikh, Federal Secretary of the Ministry of Human Rights, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to preventing gender-related killings and ensuring justice for victims.
“Through this consultation and the commitments adopted today, we are reaffirming our resolve to strengthen prevention mechanisms, improve accountability and ensure that every woman and girl in the country can live free from violence, fear and discrimination,” he stated.
UN Women Pakistan Deputy Country Representative Fahmida Iqbal Khan stressed that addressing femicide required a comprehensive response that goes beyond criminal prosecution.
“Every femicide is preventable,” she said. “Ending these killings requires transforming the social norms that enable violence, strengthening institutions and ensuring that evidence-based policies guide our actions.”
Officials presenting data during the consultation revealed that 554 honour-killing cases were processed and referred to relevant authorities between January 2024 and April 2026. They cautioned, however, that the figures were likely to represent only a fraction of the actual scale of the problem due to underreporting and gaps in documentation.
Presentations by Sindh Human Rights Secretary Jameel Junejo and Chief Police Surgeon Dr. Sumaiyya Tariq highlighted emerging trends in reported cases and the challenges faced by institutions responsible for investigations, prosecutions and victim support services.
The consultation concluded with the adoption of a joint communiqué titled “No Honour in Killing”, through which stakeholders committed to strengthening accountability mechanisms, enhancing protection and support services for survivors and affected families, improving data collection and evidence systems, rejecting informal justice mechanisms that condone violence, and investing in prevention through community engagement and efforts to transform harmful social norms.
Participants reaffirmed their collective commitment to ensuring that gender-related killings of women and girls are prevented, effectively prosecuted and never justified under the guise of so-called honour.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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