Naseebullah Khan
It is pertinent to have a glimpse of the problems which the woman of Balochistan have been facing. At current, the female literacy rate in the province is 33 percent one of the lowest in the world. 788 women out of 100000 die during childbirth against the national average of 272. Whereas, 49 percent of women in the province are malnourished. As per a report of the Aurat Foundation Balochistan, in 2020, 47 incidents of violence took place in the province in in which 16 women lost their lives. In 2021, in total 129 cases of violence, 49 cases were of honor killing, 4 cases were of sexual harassment, 78 women were killed, and 28 were tortured. The report further says that “the investigation report for 2020 revealed that overall 2,297 incidents of different natures, including human rights violation, murders, women harassment, were reported in 25 districts of the province in 2021.” According to a report submitted by the Ministry of Human Rights to the National Assembly compiled by the National Police Bureau, in 2018, 13 rape cases in Balochistan were reported while in 2019, 21 rape cases were reported in the province. In 2013, the government of Balochistan passed the Women empowerment policy 2013 for the protection of job and legal rights of women. In 2016, the provincial government passed the Balochistan protection against harassment of women at the workplace act 2016. In addition, in 2020, the government passed the Gender equality and women empowerment policy 2020_24 bill for economic and political empowerment, access to justice providing equal rights and opportunities and stooping GBV (gender-based violence). The government has time and again also allocated funds for the Construction of a women’s business incubation center in Quetta, Setting up women bazaars in Quetta, khaddar, and Gwadar, the constitution of women hostels for working women, and women shelter houses. While, the major issues faced by the womenfolk such as access to jobs, healthcare facilities, and education remain unsolved. Gender inequalities in education, jobs, political representation and other fields are still common. There is only 1 women’s University in the province for millions of girls. The dream of thousands of girls of getting higher education remains a dream. Their participation in labor force is gloomy while in a tribal and patriarchal society the representation of women in politics is rare while contesting election of women on general seats of provincial, federal or even in local bodies election has been almost nill. The gloomy state of affairs continues, when we shed light upon the cabinet members where the share of women ministers is less than 5 percent almost equal to none. Passing of acts may be the combination of shining words and slogans untill and unless the acts are implemented with true spirit. Women empowerment in Balochistan is still a dream. Their representation in politics, their due rights in job, their participation in labor force, their situation in healthcare, and their status in getting education reflect as if the women of Balochistan have been living in medieval ages. A long journey is ahead.
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