Islamabad mourns Hina Javed and the rise of femicide in Pakistan at candlelight vigil

On Saturday evening, a candlelight vigil took place outside the National Press Club in Islamabad to mourn the death of Hina Javed and demand an end to femicide in Pakistan. Javed's body was discovered in her apartment in Rawalpindi with signs of torture. The police have arrested her husband and a domestic worker. The vigil, primarily attended by women, called for an end to violence against women and justice for Javed.

Multiple speakers addressed the gathering, emphasizing the need for better legislation, an end to a culture of impunity, and a cultural shift in attitudes towards women.

Javed's cousin, Sarah Afreen Malik, lamented the tragedy of Javed's untimely death at 45 after only nine months of marriage. Another cousin, Sabah Bano Malik, stressed that gender-based violence is not rare and called for Pakistan to declare such violence as active femicide. She urged for public media campaigns, education, and resources to combat the issue.

Sabah also criticized the patriarchal mindset in Pakistan, where women are often blamed and victimized rather than held accountable. She expressed concern that Pakistan ranks at the bottom of the gender index and that much needs to change, including laws and societal norms.

Experts and individuals at the vigil attributed the prevalence of femicide to patriarchal and misogynistic attitudes, which fail to recognize women as equal human beings. They emphasized the need for cultural reforms and early education to teach boys to respect women as equals. The justice system, family support, and societal attitudes all contribute to the ongoing epidemic of gender-based violence in Pakistan.