Only 0.6% Cases End in Conviction, Reveals SSDO Factsheet
ISLAMABAD : The latest Violence Against Women (VAW) Sindh 2025 Factsheet has revealed an alarming surge in gender-based violence across Sindh.
According to data obtained by the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) through the Right to Information (RTI) from Sindh Police, a total of 3,505 cases of violence against women were registered between January and June 2025. These include incidents of physical abuse, harassment, rape, honor killings and kidnapping.
The findings show that, on average, 23 women faced violence daily , while 16 were kidnapped every day across the province. Despite the magnitude of reported cases, the conviction rate remains disturbingly low at only 0.6 percent.
Out of all recorded incidents, only three rape cases, one honor killing case and sixteen harassment cases resulted in convictions, underscoring grave deficiencies in law enforcement, prosecution and judicial follow-up.
Kidnapping emerged as the most prevalent form of violence with 2,439 cases reported, translating to 15.8 cases per 100,000 women. This was followed by rape (331 cases), physical abuse (329 cases), honor killings (201 cases), and harassment (205 cases).
District-wise data indicates that Keamari, Karachi West, Hyderabad, and Qamber Shahdadkot are among the major hotspots for gender-based violence. Keamari recorded the highest number of kidnapping and rape cases, while Hyderabad led in harassment incidents. Qamber Shahdadkot and Shikarpur reported the most honor killings, showing that both urban and rural areas face serious threats to women’s safety.
Experts warn that the negligible conviction rate, particularly in cases of rape and honor killing, highlights both institutional inefficiencies and social barriers that prevent survivors from seeking justice. Weak evidence collection, delayed investigations, lack of gender-sensitive policing and inadequate victim support systems continue to obstruct fair trials.
The report calls for urgent reforms in the criminal justice system, emphasizing the need for capacity building of police officials, speedy trials, and effective monitoring and accountability mechanisms to ensure justice for survivors.
Civil society and human rights organizations have urged the Sindh government to take immediate action to strengthen protection frameworks for women and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable under the law.
Syed Kausar Abbas, Executive Director of SSDO said that These numbers are not just statistics , they represent thousands of women who continue to suffer without justice. The extremely low conviction rate shows how our justice system is failing survivors at every stage. We urge the Sindh government and law enforcement authorities to take urgent, concrete steps to improve investigation processes, ensure accountability and provide timely justice. Every case of violence must be met with a strong and effective institutional response anything less is unacceptable.
The VAW Sindh 2025 Factsheet stands as a grim reminder that despite existing laws and institutional commitments, justice for women in Sindh remains elusive. Without strong political will and systemic reform, experts fear that thousands more women will continue to face violence in silence with little hope of justice.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
