Over 21,000 rape cases reported in Punjab in four years

This alarming figure translates to an average of 12 women facing sexual assault every day or one woman becoming a victim every two hours.

The data used in the report was provided by the Punjab home department and the Ministry of Human Rights, covering the period from 2017 to 2021.

The surge in sexual and gender-based violence (GBV) in Pakistan remains a serious concern, with low conviction rates and flaws in prosecution contributing to the ongoing threat to the safety and well-being of women and children.

Furthermore, Pakistan continues to grapple with the issue of early and forced marriages among children, a grave human rights violation that affects nearly 18% of women in the country. According to data, approximately 19 million child brides still exist in the country.