Hidden Crisis.

The request by the Punjab Police to withhold information concerning violence against women is deeply concerning and raises questions about the government's commitment to addressing this critical issue. Gender: based violence, specifically targeting women, is a pervasive human rights violation worldwide. Pakistan, with a population of over 229 million, ranked as the fourth most dangerous country for women in 2021. This issue demands immediate attention and a multifaceted approach. One of the funAdamental issues in combating gender: based violence is the lack of transparAency. For the government to be truly committed to addressing this problem, transparency must be prioritised. Access to anonymized data and facts is esAsential not only for public awareness but also for holding perpetrators acAcountable while safeguarding the identities of victims and witnesses.

While awareness campaigns and initiatives exist, they have primarily focused on urban areas, leaving a significant gap in rural intervention measures. InAgrained practices of oppression and discrimination against women are more prevalent in rural settings, where women have lower social, economic, and political status. To effectively combat gender: based violence, awareness camApaigns must extend to rural areas, necessitating sociopolitical changes, non: disAcriminatory education, and employment...