Social and Cultural Interaction Between Central Asia and Pakistan Comprehending Gender-Based Violence in Pakistan and Central Asia: Adopting A Collective Approach to Promote Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

Abstract

The traditional communities of South Asia and Central Asia have a history of sexual harassment, domestic abuse, and gender inequity. In Pakistan and Central Asian countries, child, early, and forced marriages of girls continue to be prevalent, serving as sources of domestic, gender-based, and intimate partner violence. These societies have a deep-seated history of domestic abuse against women. Despite legislation on domestic violence in most countries of both regions, including Pakistan, these areas exhibit the second highest prevalence rates of intimate partner violence and gender-based violence in the world.
This paper conducts a comparative analysis of gender equality in Pakistan and Central Asian countries, providing a general assessment of the state of gender inequality. It focuses on why women and girls in both regions face more abuse and violence than their male counterparts and explores how policies and programs can be designed and implemented to address these differences. The study evaluates existing policies and programs for gender responsiveness and provides recommendations for gender-sensitive policy and program design.
The aim of the research is to raise awareness of the importance of gender-sensitive communication, challenge unconscious assumptions about gender roles in society, provides common grounds and suggestions to collectively address gender discrimination, create a unified approach to tackling these issues, and promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in both regions.
In order to accomplish these goals, the research methodology involved online focus group discussions with women from both regions, conversations with professionals and experts in the field, and a desk-based literature analysis. This study, attempts to highlight possible areas for action, provide a better understanding of present efforts and initiatives, and provide a firmer basis of practical information for future endeavors, which is primarily intended for policymakers and academics.
The findings highlight the need to revise and modernize gender policies to achieve sustainable gender development.