Gender violence and sex related crimes in Pakistan are a grim reality. Pakistan’s law enforcement machinery is incapable of handling these cases due to weak legislation, religious influence on the standards of evidence required, an outdated court system and a general patriarchal mindset. However even with these challenges, majority of Pakistani women enjoy mobility and have personal and profession
al obligations which take them out of the sanctity of their house. Within the upper middle class of the urban areas there are women working professionals and students and in both rural and urban lower classes, we have women sometimes being the sole bread earner of their family. These women have to do these activities with the constant threat of being raped and harassed on the street. The social paradigms of this country make the victims of these attacks more at risk of social exile and suicide. Thus the threat of sexual harassment and/or rape is a very pressing issue in the lives of these women. What is ‘Tahafuz’?
‘Tahafuz’ aims to provide the women at risk of sex related crimes a first barrier of defense. A series of training workshops held every year in different areas of Pakistan which will teach women physical countermeasures and mindset training in case of grave physical assault.
2. A series of seminars to spread awareness about sex-related crimes against women and precautions that need to be taken within different communities of Pakistan.
3. Provide a ‘One-Stop-Shop’ for women seeking to buy defensive weaponry.
