Violence Against Women (VAW), once treated as a forbidden text, is now a yardstick for measuring national progress. Gone are the days when declaring yourself a feminist was not only fraught but instantly branded you mad, immoral, and a threat to society's balance.

Today, feminism has become almost a fashion statement, and while it remains "controversial", new age social media is abuzz with conversations about the Matilda effect, entrenched misogyny, and the patriarchal consensus. Despite this evolution, we women are still living in a world where we are not safe anywhere, not in bedrooms, boardrooms and barracks.

Women in Pakistan are also unprotected everywhere, from homes to hospitals, grounds to graves, and roads to reels. From Hudood to hashtags, there are countless faces of VAW, each continuing to evolve and multiply.

While defending the dignity of survivors, the processes of reporting incidents, filing FIRs, accessing medico-legal support, obtaining legal aid, or finding safe shelter remain overwhelming and often inaccessible. Today, I share a snapshot of the timeline of VAW in Pakistan, highlighting its global intersections.

My earliest memory dates back to the dark days of Gen Zia's regime, when I first heard about the Hudood Ordinance and the courageous protests led by women like the late Shehla Zia, Asma Jahangir ,Nigar Ahmed, Najma Sadeque and others, alongside the legendary Habib Jalib, against it.

As a medical student, I read with interest those chapters of medical jurisprudence often considered unimportant for examinations, and it was there that I was first introduced to the term incest, a form of VAW that our society sadly........

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