HOME is often described as a sanctuary for safety and comfort, but for countless victims of domestic violence (DV), it becomes the very place where danger exists.

After much effort, a progressive law was passed in Sindh in 2013 to protect DV victims and survivors. The Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2013, (DV Act, 2013) defines ‘domestic violence’ as physical violence, emotional, psychological, verbal, sexual and economic abuse, stalking and trespass. Following Sindh, the other provinces also passed DV laws including: The Balochistan Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2014, The Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Act, 2016, and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Domestic Violence against Women (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2021. The Islamabad Capital Territory lacks an explicit law, but recently a bill has been presented in parliament.

The effectiveness of legislation addressing violence against women and girls is rarely evident at the time it is enacted. The real impact becomes clear only when they are put into practice. It is through enforcement and real-life application that legal principles confront the realities of human behaviour. When laws move from written statutes to courts,........

© Dawn