HRCP Report: 470 Women Killed in ‘Honor’ Crimes in Pakistan in 2025

Islamabad: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has released its annual report for 2025, painting a grim picture of the human rights situation in the country, with a sharp rise in gender-based violence and security-related fatalities.
According to the report, incidents of gender-based violence increased by 25% in 2025. A total of 470 women were killed in so-called “honor” crimes, while 1,332 women lost their lives in cases of domestic violence. Additionally, 3,815 rape cases were reported, and 2,586 incidents of cyber harassment targeting women were recorded.
The report also noted that Pakistan ranked 130th out of 143 countries in terms of fundamental rights enforcement. In the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index, the country stood at 145th out of 148 nations.
Security conditions remained concerning, with 1,272 terrorist incidents and counterterrorism operations resulting in 3,417 deaths and 2,134 injuries. Furthermore, 1,155 police encounters led to 1,696 fatalities nationwide, including 977 deaths in 1,128 encounters conducted by the Counter Terrorism Department in Punjab.
The prison system also faced severe challenges, with overcrowding reaching 171% of capacity. The report revealed that 21,600 Pakistani nationals are currently imprisoned abroad, including 738 in Indian jails—many of them fishermen.
Child protection indicators were equally alarming. Around 3,600 cases of violence against children were reported, along with 1,107 abductions and 365 cases of missing children. There were also 53 reported cases of child marriage and 52 cases involving child sexual abuse linked to pornographic material.
The report highlighted violence against the transgender community as well, with 19 transgender individuals killed and two subjected to acid attacks. The highest number of killings—10—was reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where 13 transgender individuals also faced sexual violence.
In addition, the report stated that millions more people fell below the poverty line in 2025, further exacerbating the country’s socio-economic challenges.