Women Harassment: A Global Crisis
Women harassment is everywhere, affecting millions of women all over the world, across all geographical boundaries, cultures, or socioeconomic status. It is a global pandemic manifesting itself in the form of sexual harassment, verbal abuse, physical violence, and digital harassment. While much has been accomplished towards gender equality, it is very disheartening that harassment still manages to sabotage the safety, dignity, and freedom of women, grossly crippling their active participation in society.
Overview of Harassment Against Women Around the World
According to one UN report in 2018, it is estimated that around 35 percent of women worldwide have been subjected to physical or sexual assault at some point in their lives. The figure could actually be more than that because of underreporting, especially in countries that have strict social etiquette and stigma associated with harassment. The World Health Organization estimates that one woman in three is regularly confronted with physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner; harassment at work is common and is considered a professional reality.
The #MeToo movement, which gained momentum in 2017, called out the prevalence of sexual harassment across industries, from high-profile cases in Hollywood to those in politics and corporate boardrooms. Victims, mostly women, have since come forward with their horrific tales, but until now, #MeToo has little systemic changes to its name.
Harassment in Pakistan
Harassment in Pakistan is a serious issue, where the due execution of law for the protection of women is yet awaited. According to the survey conducted by the Aurat Foundation, a Pakistani NGO, nearly 70 percent of women are victimized with one or another form of harassment in their lifetime. One such case, which proved a milestone in Pakistan, was the case of Mukhtaran Mai, who in 2002, on the order of the tribal council, known as the Panchayat, was raped by a group of men in consequence of the crimes her brother had committed. She bravely sought justice, and that helped shine a light on gender-based violence for both national and international attention.
Harassment at workplaces is also common in Pakistan. The Protection Against Harassment of Women in the Workplace Act was created in 2010 with this goal in mind, offering a legal framework for women who experience harassment at work. However, it has been reported that most of the female victims still do not inform about the incident due to the fear of social stigma and retaliation or lack of belief in the dispensation of justice.
In 2020, public outcry erupted over the killing of Noor Mukadam, a woman from Pakistan who was brutally murdered in Islamabad. It underlined how violence and harassment against women in the country should be considered a systemic issue. Her death came as a grim reminder of the fact that patriarchy is deeply entrenched in society and condones violence against women in both public and private spheres.
Workplace Harassment Worldwide
Workplace harassment is another form of abuse that is often normalized and ignored. In the United States, a 2016 survey by the EEOC reported that between 25% and 85% of women have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace. The wide range underlines a difficulty in estimating true scope; many incidents go unreported.
A 2014 study by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights reported that 55% of women in the EU have been sexually harassed since they reached 15 years. The report stated that harassment cuts across all professions, from hospitality and retail to academia and corporate environments.
Cyber Harassment
A new dimension for harassment includes cyberbullying and online sexual harassment. Such issues have tended to go really high-end, in the case of a study conducted by Amnesty International in 2021, where it was found that as many as 23% of women in the United States and the UK have been subjected to online harassment. In Pakistan, the women journalists and activists confront a regular barrage of online threats and abuses, which in turn makes it tough for them to work in the public domain with no threats or violence.
Conclusion
The harassment of women, in fact, remains an imperative problem throughout the world, needing solutions at legal, social, and cultural levels. Although most countries passed laws, enforcement coupled with public awareness and education is a must in combating this epidemic. The societies have to buckle down to the task of changing deeply embedded gender stereotypes and make an atmosphere where women can live and work without fear. It is not only about women’s rights but also about human rights, which are quite fundamental to building an inclusive and equitable society.
