Civil Society Expresses Deep Concern Over Rising Violence, Killings, and Sexual Assault Against Women and Girls in Balochistan
QUETTA – The EVAW/G Alliance (Alliance for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls) and the Women’s Foundation have expressed profound concern and sorrow over the escalating incidents of violence, alleged murders, acid attacks, sexual assault, and other serious crimes against women and young girls in Balochistan over the past month.
The alliance and organization have demanded that the Balochistan government, law enforcement agencies, and relevant authorities take immediate and strict notice of these incidents, ensure transparent and impartial investigations, and award exemplary punishment to the perpetrators in accordance with the law.
The alliance stated that reports of a 15-year-old minor girl’s alleged murder by her husband in Kuchlak, an acid attack and torture on a woman in Killi Babri, Mastung, the recovery of a woman’s body in Turbat, and the alleged sexual assault, murder, and concealment of the body of a 9-year-old girl in Ahmed Wal, Noshki, are extremely alarming and a wake-up call for society. While the full truth must be determined through investigation, such incidents highlight the serious risks to the safety and protection of women and girls.
The EVAW/G Alliance and Women’s Foundation asserted that violence against women and children is unacceptable under any circumstances. Particularly, incidents of sexual assault on young girls, murder, and acid throwing on women are not only grave violations of basic human rights but also major challenges to the rule of law and the social protection system. The state has a fundamental responsibility to provide every woman and girl with the right to life, dignity, protection, and justice.
The alliance expressed concern over reports of the unavailability of surgeons for post-mortems at Civil Hospital Noshki, as well as the absence of police surgeons in hospitals across other districts of Balochistan. They noted that the lack of medical and forensic facilities in such sensitive and serious cases can severely hamper the process of justice. The Balochistan government must ensure adequate forensic, medical, psychological, and legal facilities in all districts of the province, especially remote areas, so that victims can receive timely justice and support.
The partner organizations further stated that merely registering cases is insufficient. A comprehensive survivor-centered response must be ensured for affected women and girls, including protection, confidentiality, medical treatment, psychological support, legal aid, and rehabilitation. The establishment of effective coordination and integrated systems between police, health, prosecution, social welfare, the Women’s Development Department, and other relevant agencies is an urgent necessity.
The EVAW/G Alliance and Women’s Foundation demanded that the Balochistan government take practical steps to implement existing laws effectively, ensure timely arrests and convictions of perpetrators, protect victims, enhance the capacity of police and judicial systems, and raise public awareness to prevent increasing incidents of violence against women and girls.
They made it clear that silence on incidents of violence against women and girls only breeds more violence. State institutions, civil society, media, communities, and all segments of society must work together to create an environment where women and girls can live without fear and every perpetrator is held accountable under the law.
The alliance and foundation expect the Balochistan government to view these incidents not merely as isolated crimes but as a serious and urgent issue concerning the protection of women and girls. Through a zero-tolerance policy, effective law enforcement, and swift justice, the government must send a clear message that violence against women and girls in Balochistan will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
The alliance specifically demanded that the Chief Minister of Balochistan, Minister of Interior, Minister of Health, Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, Women’s Development Department, Social Welfare Department, police, and other relevant authorities take high-level notice of all mentioned incidents, ensure transparent and impartial investigations, immediately arrest perpetrators and bring them to justice, and ensure effective follow-up of cases to deliver justice to victims and their families.
The statement particularly called for providing immediate and comprehensive medical treatment, psychological support, legal aid, and protection to the acid attack and torture victim, while all arrangements including medical examination, forensic facilities, psychological support, and legal assistance must be ensured for child victims of sexual assault.
