The Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) has released its latest report, “Mapping Gender-based Violence (GBV) in Pakistan 2024,” gives a provincial analysis of rape, honor killing, kidnapping/abduction and domestic violence over Punjab, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhwa (KP), Balochistan (Ect).

The report highlights the alarming scale of GBV cases and the extremely low conviction rates that emphasize the need for urgent reforms in law enforcement and the legal system.

According to the report, a total of 32,617 GBV cases were reported nationwide by 2024. These include 5,339 incidents with rape, 24,439 incidents with kidnapping/abduction, 2,238 incidents with domestic violence and 547 cases of honor killings.

Despite these figures, the conviction rates remain critically low across all provinces. The national rape of conviction is only 0.5%, while honor killings also only see 0.5% conviction. Kidnapping and abduction cases have an even lower conviction of 0.1%, while cases of domestic violence result in conviction only 1.3% of the time.

Punjab registered the highest number of GBV cases with a total of 26,753. The province reported 225 Honor Killing cases, but only two beliefs. In the event of rape, Punjab had 4,641 reported incidents, but the belief rate was just 0.4%. Kidnapping and abduction cases were alarmingly high at 20,720 with only 16 beliefs. Cases of domestic violence amounted to 1,167 with only three beliefs.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 3,397 GBV cases were registered. Honorary killings accounted for 134 cases with two beliefs. The province reported 258 rape cases with only one conviction. Kidnapping and abduction cases amounted to 943 with only one conviction. Cases of domestic violence in KP were a total of 446, but no conviction was recorded.

SINDH registered 1,781 GBV cases. Honorary killings accounted for 134 cases, but no one resulted in conviction. The province recorded 243 rape cases, again without conviction. Kidnapping and abduction cases were reported to 2,645, but still no conviction was made. Cases of domestic violence amounted to 375 without justice served with regard to conviction.

Balochistan had a total of 398 GBV cases. The province recorded 32 cases of honor killings with only one conviction. Rape cases were reported at 1 p.m. 21 with zero conviction. Kidnapping and abduction cases were 185, but still no conviction was recorded. Cases of domestic violence were reported at 1 p.m. 160 with 25 beliefs – the highest among all provinces of this category.

Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) reported 220 GBV cases. Honorary killings accounted for 22 cases without conviction. The capital recorded 176 rape cases with only seven convictions. Data on kidnapping and abduction cases were not provided by the prosecution. Cases of domestic violence stood at 22, without being registered without conviction.

SYED KAUSAR ABBAS, CEO of SSDO, said the report, based on data obtained from provincial police departments through the right to access to Information (RTI), gives an analysis of GBV cases reported in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan in 2024.

He emphasized the urgent need for meaningful reforms to protect the survivors and ensure that perpetrators are held responsible. When he emphasizes that every survivor deserves justice, he called for improvements in police investigation, legal procedures and experimental efficiency to prevent long delays that hinder justice.

He urged government institutions, civil society and legal bodies to work together to create a system where the survivors feel safe, supported and authorized to seek justice.

Shahid Jatoi, director programs at SSDO, emphasized that the report’s findings reveal deeply rooted questions in Pakistan’s criminal justice system. The abysmal low conviction rates, such as 0.5% for rape and honor killing nationwide, reflect weak studies, inadequate evidence collection, societal stigma and a lack of legal accountability.

He pointed out that the justice system does not fail to tackle the extent of gender -based violence, leaving the surviving vulnerable and perpetrators largely unpunished.

Limited access to legal aid, prolonged trial and cultural pressure that discourages reporting or pursuing cases exacerbates the crisis further. Reasonable and extensive reforms are needed to adapt Pakistan’s criminal justice system with the severity of these offenses.