Session 5: Jirga System and honor killing
Every society has its
codes of ethics and morality. Both tribal and liberal societies follow the
rules and codes introduced in their societies by the leading government or the
ruling party. In many areas of Pakistan, like tribal areas of KPK and Baluchistan
and some parts of the Sindh are ruled by the strong Jirga systems which took
birth almost with the birth of Pakistan. The codes introduced by the Jirga are
followed in these societies even if these rules are against human right or are
against the laws, one of the most farce example of such codes is honor killing.
Most of the families in
the tribal areas are patriarchal where men have a strong hold in all major
decisions and women are considered as secondary citizens who cannot speak up in
the society for her rights as her rights are defined by male members of the
family or society. Every year a great number of women are killed in the name of
honor and most of these cases go unfiled because it is a matter of izzat of the
family, even if it is at the stake of a women’s life. Jirga system is very
strong in the tribal areas and for whatever reason for which the Jirga system
cannot be replaced in these areas, a strong movement should be taken to ensure
women rights in these societies and to make sure that their voice can be heard
before it is buried in the ground.
2 comments:
Another solution can be to include female voices in these systems as in 1964 and 1976, Afghani jirghas inculcate women in their sittings, thus breaking the stereotype of male domination in these system.
I agree that women's voices need to be heard in these jirgas. I was unaware of the Afghan case of allowing women in the jirgas, but that is an excellent example of how this system can be reformed to be more representative.
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