Women’s rights activists protest against the Supreme Court’s decision in the Mukhtar Mai rape case outside the Karachi Press Club. The court judgment acknowledged that Mai had been raped, yet freed five men accused in the notorious gang rape that took place under orders from a village council in 2002. Only 1 of the 14 men involved remains in jail. Karachi, Pakistan, 2011
An old press clipping about the murder of Sobia showing both the murdererer and the bloody crime scene where her mutilated body was found. The perpetrator fled the city and still hasn't been brought to justice for his brutal crimes. Karachi, Pakistan, 2011
Jamila, the mother of Sobia who was brutally raped and murdered by one of her neighbours and school fellows after refusing his marriage proposal. Karachi, Pakistan, 2011
Two streets away from her house, this is the place where 19 year old Sobia was raped and murdered by her neighbour whose marriage proposal she refused. Then still a construction site, the building is now inhabited by various families. Karachi, Pakistan, 2011
85 % of women in Pakistan face gender-discrimination in one form or another. Boys are still prefered to girls. Pakistan, 2011
Abducted by an uncle on her way to school, the then 13-year-old Jaweria was drugged and raped until she fell unconscious. Now married and expecting her second baby, she tries to continue her life with the support of her family. Pakistan, 2011
Files and documentation on rape, gender violence and abuse in the office of War against Rape (W.A.R.). Since 1989 this ngo works comprehensively to provide services to rape survivors as well as to advocate just laws and right-based services for survivors of sexual violence in Pakistan. Karachi, Pakistan, 2011
The Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill was passed unanimously by the National Assembly on August 4, 2009, but the bill lapsed after the Senate failed to pass it within the 3 months required under the Pakistani's constitution. Approximately 80 percent of married women in rural areas fear domestic abuse while 50 percent of women in urban areas report having been subjected to spousal abuse. The Aurat Foundation reports that gender-based violence increased by 13 percent from 2008 to 2009. Pakistan, 2011
Shabana (not her real name) leans against her mothers back. Raped by her brother-in-law when she was 4 years old, she is both emotionally and physically scarred. Afraid of the stigma involved surrounding rape victims, the perpetrator didn't serve any sentence and the family settled out of court. Many of the rapes occurring in Pakistan happen within the family and involve minors. Karachi, Pakistan, 2011
A teenager was found guilty for abducting, raping and killing his 5-year-old cousin on the local soccer field in Clifton. After sexually assaulting her on the rooftop of the house where they both lived, he strangled her to death and dumped her body in the football ground, being used by locals as a garbage dump. Karachi, Pakistan, 2011
Rubina (not her real name) and her sister-in-law were raped over a house dispute with the land mafia. They bought a house but it was sold to others as well. The second owner of the house threw all their furniture on the streets and together with his friends raped two of the three women present in the house. Karachi, Pakistan, 2011
The backside of the gate of the Women's police station, closed off for the majority of the time. Initially set up to investigate cases of violence against women and letting them be treated by female police officers, the reality on the ground is very different. With no authority and hardly any female police officers on duty, the all-female police stations don't serve the purpose they were intended for. Karachi, Pakistan, 2011
A female police constable writes down the arrival and departure times in a logbook at the West Zone Woman's police station. The all-women police stations were stopped from registering cases in 2002. A study revealed that women police officers were not allowed to register FIRs by senior ranking male officials of the police department. This situation is only slowly changing and good intentions often go to waste Karachi, Pakistan, 2011
A flower stand where guirlands are sold for wedding and funeral ceremonies. Karachi, Pakistan, 2011
It's estimated that worldwide 1 in 5 women will become the victim of rape or attempted rape during her life. In Pakistan around 85% of women face various forms of gender-based violence. Sexual violence is still so much a taboo issue and unreliable statistics hide the actual magnitude of the problem. After I heard about the gang rape case of Mukhtar Mai, I wanted to do a project on the subject of rape. In a conservative society like Pakistan this is very difficult and most people still believe the woman must have done something wrong herself to have been raped. The perpetrators hardly punished. With this series I tried to give some of the survivors a voice and hope to create more understanding for some of the victims and their families.
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