KARACHI, JUN 16: /DNA/ – Ministry of Human Rights and UN Women organised a high-level consultative session to discuss the issue of femicide and killing of women in pretext of so-called honour in Karachi partnership with Sindh Human Rights Department and Sindh Commission on Status of women. The initiative has been taken in context of recent surge in cases of honour killings, and Government’s zero tolerance policy on violence Against Women.
The consultation brought together representatives from federal and provincial government departments, justice sector institutions, medico-legal services, human rights bodies, civil society organizations, development partners, UN agencies, and women’s rights advocates to discuss priority actions for preventing femicide and other gender-related killings of women and girls, strengthening accountability, and improving protection and access to justice.
In his remarks, Mr. Rajvir Singh Sodha, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Sindh on Human Rights, reaffirmed the Government of Sindh’s commitment to ending violence against women and girls and advancing human rights across the province. He stated: “The Government of Sindh has consistently demonstrated its commitment to protecting the rights of women and girls through progressive legislation, institutional reforms, and partnerships with civil society and development partners. 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 not tolerated and never justified.”
Speaking at the event, Ms. Rubina Brohi, Chairperson, Sindh Commission on the Status of Women (SCSW), emphasized the importance of collective action and stated: “There is no justification for violence committed in the name of so-called honour. We must strengthen implementation of existing laws, ensure accountability for perpetrators, and work together to challenge the harmful norms that continue to put women and girls at risk. Every woman and girl has the right to live with dignity, safety, and equal protection under the law.”
Mr. Abdul Khaliq Sheikh, Secretary, Ministry of Human Rights, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting coordinated national and provincial efforts to prevent gender-related killings of women and girls and strengthen accountability for such crimes. He stated: “Through this consultation and the commitments adopted today, we are reaffirming our resolve to strengthen prevention, improve accountability, and ensure that every woman and girl in Pakistan can live free from violence, fear, and discrimination.”
Speaking at the consultation, Ms. Fahmida Iqbal Khan, Deputy Country Representative, UN Women Pakistan, said: “Every femicide is preventable. Ending these killings requires more than criminal justice responses—it requires changing the social norms that enable violence, strengthening institutions, and ensuring that evidence informs policy. Through our support to the National EVAWG Policy and Pakistan’s first National Study on Femicide, UN Women remains committed to working with government and civil society partners to prevent these crimes and advance the rights, safety, and dignity of women and girls across Pakistan.”
Presentations by Mr. Jameel Junejo, Secretary, Human Rights Department, Government of Sindh, and Dr. Sumaiyya Tariq, Chief Police Surgeon and Head of Medico-Legal Services, Sindh, highlighted trends in reported cases and institutional responses. Data presented during the consultation showed that 554 honour killing cases were processed and referred to relevant authorities between January 2024 and April 2026. Based on reported cases alone, these figures likely understate the true scale of the problem while highlighting persistent gaps in prevention, reporting, and accountability.
The consultation concluded with the adoption of the “No Honour in Killing” Joint Communiqué, committing stakeholders to strengthen accountability, improve protection and support services, enhance data and evidence systems, reject parallel justice mechanisms that sanction violence, and invest in prevention through community engagement and social norms change.
Participants reaffirmed their shared commitment to ensuring that gender-related killings of women and girls are prevented, prosecuted, and never justified under the guise of so-called honour, and that every woman and girl in Pakistan can live free from violence and discrimination.
