Over 1,000 vulnerable female prisoners in Pakistan: HRCP

The Express Tribune

Out of 75,000 prisoners in jails across Pakistan, there are around 1,100 incarcerated women, statistics presented by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) revealed. Commenting on the depressing condition these women are in, the HRCP official said that their families disown them instead of helping them to fight the cases due to social stigma. “Women prisoners are the most vulnerable detainees,” he added in reference to the lack of privacy for women detainees. Women are not provided with qualified lady doctors when in need, he added. The HRCP official pointed out that cells of the Women Police Centre Jail Road, Lahore, are reportedly exposed to passersby and walls of its bathroom is only four feet high. Furthermore, there are no separate juvenile cells for girls under 18. Apart from the lack of privacy and facilities, the detainees are reportedly kept in their cells beyond the stipulated time. Domestic violence There were 4,585 cases of domestic violence from the period of January to June 2012, according to the recent report `State of Human Rights in 2012′. At least 41 girls and women became victims of acid attack in 2012, 15 had their limbs amputated, 37 had their heads shaved while 49 were set on fire in different incidents, said the report compiled by HRCP media monitoring. The perpetrators in a majority of these cases were related to the victims. According to the Aurat Foundation, domestic violence increased by 7 percent in 2012 over the previous year. The HRCP official said that legislation to curb crimes against women should be implemented.