Gender-Based Violence in Punjab: An Analysis of Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Act, 2016

Abstract

Pakistan still has a patriarchal and feudal social structure where women face violence and discrimination for being women in every sphere of their lives. Over the decades, to reduce the violence and discrimination against women, the government have taken several legislative measures to ensure an improved and equal status for women, but the situation has not been much improved. It is argued that the underlying reason lies in the lack of will at the implementation stage, where male-dominated government institutions support the patriarchal structures. However, the government of Punjab took legislative measures, in the form of the Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Act (PPWVA) 2016, to protect women from violence and abuse, and to provide justice. The objective of this study is to analyse the situation of violence against women in Punjab and examine the formulation and implementation process of legislation in Punjab for the protection of women against violence, and suggest recommendations for effective implementation of the law.