Are Women Safe?

By Sameen Qazi

Nowadays, many cases are registered where women are the victims of crime. Women often cannot walk alone or even book a cab comfortably because they fear being kidnapped, assaulted, or murdered. When a woman sets a boundary or politely asks someone not to disturb her, she too often becomes a victim of retaliation, including acid attacks. Many women suffer from domestic violence within marriage, while others are targeted by family members seeking to protect ego or so-called honor—frequently misusing religious justifications to excuse these acts.
Victims of gender-based violence span all ages and backgrounds, from school students and working professionals to young children. When these crimes occur, society often shifts the focus onto victim-blaming, questioning a woman’s character, clothing, or choices. High-profile incidents highlight the severity of the issue, such as an acid attack on a doctor inside a hospital after she rejected a colleague’s advances, or cases of severe violence against students in educational institutions.
Beyond physical violence, modern forms of harassment—including digital abuse, deepfakes, and public blackmail—cause extreme psychological harm, pushing many victims toward severe trauma or suicide. Many additional cases go unreported due to societal pressure and fear of social stigma.
To address this crisis, the government must enforce strict legal actions and ensure swift, severe penalties for perpetrators. Protecting women requires institutional accountability, safer public spaces, and a fundamental shift away from victim-blaming culture to ensure safety and justice for all women.