The Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) has published its latest report, “mapping gender violence (GBV) in Pakistan 2024,” providing a rape analysis, honor murders, kidnapping/kidnapping of the province, kidnapping/kidnapping and domestic violence between Punjab, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Islamabad Capital (ICT).
The report highlights the alarming scale of GBV cases and extremely low sentence rates, emphasizing the need for urgent reforms in the application of the law and the judicial system.
According to the report, a total of 32,617 cases of GBV throughout the country in 2024 were reported. These include 5,339 rape incidents, 24,439 kidnapping/kidnapping incidents, 2,238 incidents of domestic violence and 547 cases of honor murders.
Despite these figures, conviction rates remain critically low in all provinces. The national rape rate of rape is only 0.5%, while honor murders also see only 0.5% condemnations. Cases of kidnapping and kidnapping have an even lower condemnation rate than 0.1%, while cases of domestic violence result in convictions only 1.3% of the time.
Punjab registered the largest number of GBV cases, with a total of 26,753. The province reported 225 cases of honor murder, but only two convictions. In cases of rape, Punjab had 4,641 incidents reported, but the condemnation rate remained at a single 0.4%. The cases of kidnapping and kidnapping were alarmingly high in 20,720, with only 16 convictions. Cases of domestic violence totaled 1,167, with only three convictions.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 3,397 cases of GBV were recorded. Honor murders represented 134 cases, with two convictions. The province reported 258 cases of rape, with only one sentence. Cases of kidnapping and kidnapping stood in 943, with just a conviction. Cases of domestic violence in KP totaled 446, but no convictions were recorded.
Sindh registered 1,781 GBV cases. Honor murders represented 134 cases, but none resulted in convictions. The province registered 243 cases of rape, again without convictions. Cases of kidnapping and kidnapping were informed in 2,645, but no convictions were made. Cases of domestic violence were in 375, without justice served in terms of convictions.
Baluchistan had a total of 398 cases of GBV. The province registered 32 cases of honor murders, with only a conviction. Violation cases were informed at 21, with zero convictions. Cases of kidnapping and kidnapping remained in 185, but no convictions were recorded. Cases of domestic violence were reported in 160, with 25 sentences, the highest among all provinces for this category.
The territory of the capital of Islamabad (ICT) reported 220 cases of GBV. Honor murders represented 22 cases, without convictions. The capital registered 176 cases of violation, with only seven convictions. The Prosecutor’s Department did not provide data on kidnapping and kidnapping. Cases of domestic violence were 22 years, without registered convictions.
Syed Kausar Abbas, executive director of SSDO, declared that the report, based on the data obtained from the provincial police departments through the right of access to the Information Laws (RTI), provides an analysis of the cases of GBV reported in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan for 2024.
He emphasized the urgent need for significant reforms to protect survivors and ensure that perpetrators are responsible. Emphasizing that each survivor deserves justice, requested improvements in police investigations, legal procedures and the efficiency of the trial to avoid long delays that hinder justice.
He urged government institutions, civil society and legal bodies to work together to create a system where survivors feel safe, supported and trained to seek justice.
Shahid Jatoi, SSDO programs director, stressed that the reports of the report reveal deep problems in Pakistan’s criminal justice system. Abismally low conviction rates, such as 0.5% for murder for violation and honor throughout the country, reflect weak investigations, compilation of inadequate evidence, social stigma and lack of judicial responsibility.
He pointed out that the justice system does not address the scale of gender -based violence, leaving vulnerable survivors and largely unpunished perpetrators.
Limited access to legal assistance, prolonged judgment and cultural pressures that discourage to inform or pursue cases further exacerbate the crisis. Urgent and comprehensive reforms are needed to align Pakistan’s criminal justice system with the seriousness of these crimes.
