Women working in hospitals in Pakistan claim that they often get sexually harassed during work, recent news outlets report. This has created a huge insecurity among the country’s medical experts. It isn’t rare that these cases aren’t reported to the authorities due to a fear of judgment and pressure. Additionally, some victims have claimed that they are afraid of losing honor and respect from their teammates. Following the case of a 31-year-old trainee who got raped and murdered, there have been a few more reports of harassment reported by the BBC. However, there are probably a large number of cases that remain unknown for now.
A few months ago, a young doctor was filmed in the bathroom through a hole in the wall. The man who did such a thing used the videos to blackmail her. The young doctor was asked to fill a complaint document with the federal investigation agency, but she refused and said that she didn’t want the video to be leaked and reach her family or in-laws. The video was deleted, and the hospital’s response to the situation was the following: “unfortunately, we couldn’t take further action, but we got the hole covered so that no one could do it again.” The hospital’s response to the actions reflects how harassment victims often have to face environments where silence is prioritized over justice.
According to Dr. Summaya Tariq Syed, the root of the problem lies in a lack of trust and accountability. She describes her 25 years of service in the healthcare system as a constant battle against violence and betrayal and says she has been disappointed with how situations like these are handled. She claims that she has faced many situations where a man’s word was taken over hers based solely on their gender.
Due to the lack of information from the country concerning these matters, there are no official statistics available on the number of assaults committed against female health workers in Pakistan. However, a report by the US National Institutes of Health in 2022 indicates that up to 95% of nurses in Pakistan have been harassed either sexually, mentally, or verbally by their colleagues, patients, and hospital visitors.
The lack of proper action taken by hospitals may lead to a future increase in assault cases. This can perpetuate traditional aspects of Pakistani culture and deepen victim’s fears of being criticized by their colleagues or family members, which is the reason most victims of harassment in Pakistan don’t report these cases to the authorities. The healthcare sector in Pakistan, amongst other sectors, lacks a strong mechanism to deal with sexual harassment. While laws like the Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act exist, enforcement remains weak, and no significant action is taken.
Another big issue is that there aren’t enough women in leadership roles. This means that only men’s perspectives are considered for big decisions, creating a disciplinary system based on ideas that mostly benefit men. Additionally, there aren’t safe places for women in Pakistan to talk and express their feelings related to sexual harassment, so in most cases, there is a lack of opportunities to report and raise awareness about the problem.
The lack of mental health support for victims is also a big issue. When women are harassed, it causes an incredible amount of stress that can lead to depression or suicide. About 280 million people worldwide have depression and 20% of these end their lives.
Finally, more education and awareness of the situation currently facing Pakistani women is needed, and for that, Pakistan’s media could play a significant role. Social media and news outlets can help bring attention to the issue of harassment, which can create pressure for change. However, these must be handled carefully to protect victims’ privacy and ensure that they are not made public without their consent.
Bibliography:
Javed, Farhat. “Women Doctors Reveal Abuse and Harassment in Pakistan’s Hospitals.” BBC News, BBC, 24 Sept. 2024, www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y9g751xg4o
Standard Business. “Abuse, Fear, and Silence: Female Health Workers At Risk in Pakistan.” Business Standard, 26 Sept. 2024, www.business-standard.com/world-news/abuse-fear-and-silence-female-health-workers-at-risk-in-pakistan-124092600344_1.html