Blue Grey Hand Beaded Pillow

Women in Pakistan still face significant discriminatory cultural and legal practices. Barriers such as social stigma, legislation that punishes victims, economic dependency, and lack of access to information about their rights prevent women and girls from reporting incidents of domestic violence and rape. Practices such as honor killings, alleged “stove deaths” and acid throwing continue to occasionally occur.

The Hudood ordinances (enacted 1979) established significant discriminatory legal practices and are being challenged by the Pakistani government's National Commission on the Status of Women, which has called for their repeal. These ordinances establish rape as a crime, but do not make marital rape a crime. Under the ordinances, husbands and male family members may accuse women of adultery and have them arrested. The Hudood Ordinances also create judicial discrimination against women. Women's testimony in cases involving Koranic punishment (as opposed to secular punishment) is often considered invalid or discounted significantly. In other cases involving property matters or questions of future obligations, a woman's testimony is equal to half that of a man's testimony. Furthermore, inheritance law discriminates against women. Female children are entitled to only half the inheritance of male children, while wives inherit only one-eighth of their husband's estate. Legislation against domestic violence is nonexistent.

Female life expectancy at birth: 64.44 years
Total fertility rate: 4 children born/woman
Infant mortality rate: 70.45 deaths/1,000 live births
HIV/AIDS adult prevalence: .1% (2001 estimate)
Literacy: male 61.7%; Female 35.2% (2004 estimate)
Per capita income $2,400, 32% below poverty line

• 16" x16"
• Red, turquoise & gold beading with red stitching
• Floral motif

$36.00 USD

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Global Sistergoods partners with a nonprofit in Punjab, Pakistan, that works directly with gypsy women and their children. In addition to facilitating environmental projects and sustainability education throughout the surrounding areas, this locally-run nonprofit is in process of establishing a school for gypsy children.