Torture on women in police custody: over 10,421 cases reported in 10 years

Over 10,421 cases of torture on women in police custody were reported in Pakistan during the last ten years. The figure reached 695 torture cases against women in police custody during the first six months of 2009. Sexual violence is seldom reported with up to 70 % of women being subjected to violation of their basic human rights during custody.
The figures were revealed in the launching ceremony of a three-year project: "Ending Torture and ill-treatment of Women in Police Custody" launched by Oxfam-GB in collaboration with the European Commission here on Tuesday. Additional Inspector General (AIG) Islamabad Police Ehsan Sadiq said that poverty, disenfranchisement and disempowerment aggravate vulnerability of women against violence. Progressive change has occurred in police behaviour and it further needed basic paradigm shift to induct professional, trained and neutral people in the force to create a better environment.
"The protection and safety of women who come into contact with law enforcement agencies must be guaranteed," said Dr Noreen Khalid, project manager of Oxfam GB's Girls' Education and Ending Violence against Women (EVAW) department. "Protecting women when they are vulnerable and in the care of government, role of law enforcement authorities is a vital step in building a better and fairer society for all," she added.
The project will work to create awareness and improve the observance of women's human rights in Pakistan by supporting civil society to stamp out existing mistreatment, prevent future abuses and assist in the rehabilitation of victims. The project will also work to ensure the proper treatment of women victims of violence by law enforcement agencies and to improve living conditions for women in police custody and in government-shelter homes.
Other officials of the EC and Oxfam said that torture of women is the violation of human rights, prohibited in all circumstances under international law. It is deeply rooted in pervasive discrimination that continues to deny women full equality with men and that legitimises violence against women. They further said that the constitution of Pakistan guarantees to ensure ending all forms of discriminations against women.
Speakers said that to create awareness and improve the observance of women's human rights in Pakistan through supporting civil society organisations in actions aimed at preventing and eradicating torture and ill treatment and assisting women torture survivors in their rehabilitation into society.
According to the project, training of trainers and training of core team of law enforcement officials who will be responsible for replicating training with other police, jail and Darul-Aaman representatives. Similarly, formation of women's protection forums to act as a watchdog and pressure group platform to raise the level of awareness of torture of women in police custody, drafting and tabling of an 'anti torture' bill through consultation meetings with over 500 civil society representatives at provincial and national level.
Survivor Support Units (SSU) to be established in Rescue 15 police stations as part of a pilot initiative to provide legal counselling to 240 women and legal aid to 30 women survivors. Stress management counselling sessions with 36 women in jails and Darul-Aamans, life skill training programmes for 64 women in jails, advocacy/awareness raising engagement targeting over 8000 representatives of civil society, jails, police stations and Darul-Aamans aimed at creating accessible and facilitative environment for women seeking justice through the formal legal system, improved living conditions for women in police custody and in shelter homes.