EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/184

(2004/C 88 E/0191)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0419/04

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(17 February 2004)

Subject: Bride burning in Pakistan

Fresh reports have emerged about the continuation of the hideous practice of bride burning in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. This is a form of violence within the family in which women are burned by their own husbands or parents-in-law for reasons ranging from financial disagreements to the drunkenness of the husband. The perpetrators of this crime pour kerosene over the women and set them alight; alternatively, they simply throw acid at them. The official explanation is that the woman suffered an accident while cooking. In any case, the victim usually dies as a result, either directly or subsequently due to inadequate treatment. Because women are intimidated, charges are only brought rarely.

What action does the Commission intend to take to persuade the governments of Pakistan, India and Bangladesh to overcome their indifference and lack of political will so that they combat misogyny and ensure that those guilty of bride burning are punished in an exemplary fashion?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(23 March 2004)

The Commission is aware of this practice in the three countries mentioned by the Honourable Member.

Burning attacks, and more specifically acid attacks, are one of the multiple forms of violence against women in Pakistan. According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, 55 cases were registered in 2000, 63 in 2001 and 88 in 2002. The fact that these cases are increasingly reported by the media has forced the authorities to acknowledge the existence of the problem. However, this may also have had the unintended effect of spreading the idea of such practices.

The matter is complex as honour killings are rooted in arcane traditions prevalent in some of the most remote areas of Pakistan. There is also often confusion between Islamic injunctions and tribal traditions. In Pakistan manslaughter offences fall into the private sphere which means that no action can be taken by the State if the victim and/or his/her family does not file a case. This situation has favoured the practice of pressuring or paying the victim or even the police not to file a case, leaving many offenders free and distorting the normal process of justice.

Tackling the problem efficiently would require a revision of the Penal Code, appropriate training of the police and a massive awareness campaign. Some positive steps have been noticed in the past six months with a new open debate within the Government and the Parliament on domestic violence, honour killings and the specific problem of acid attacks. The Provincial Assemblies have adopted resolutions on those matters and President Musharraf himself took a stand on a specific case. But a lot more needs to be done to arrive at a system where the victims are protected from undue pressure.

The EU has repeatedly addressed the problem of violence against women in various diplomatic démarches to the Pakistani Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights. Moreover, it is envisaged to specifically mention the increasing number of acid attacks during a new EU diplomatic démarche which will take place during the coming weeks.

In addition, the Delegation of the Commission in Pakistan launched, at the end of 2003, a first call for proposals under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights programme to fund micro-projects addressing violence against women. As a result of this initiative, it is expected that 12 projects run by local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will be financed across the country to address various forms of domestic violence. Possible activities include awareness campaigns, provision of legal and medical assistance to victims, as well as the involvement and education of local authorities.

As in Pakistan, bride burning and acid throwing in Bangladesh is often related to dowry problems or marriage refusal. The present Bangladesh National Party (BNP) led Government has shown special determination in combating this particularly vicious form of criminality, which according to the Acid Survivors' Foundation, doubled in 2002 to over 350 declared attacks. The Parliament endorsed a law in March 2003 to combat the menace of acid attacks and now sanctions the most horrendous occurrences with capital punishment.

The Commission has addressed the issue through the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights by supporting victims of violence and promoting the empowerment of vulnerable women and children. At the same time the Commission plans to increment its support to specific human rights activities in 2005 and 2006, in the framework of the review of the National Indicative Programme for Bangladesh. This may include support to a United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef) programme benefiting vulnerable youths and notably also potential victims of acid throwing. The topic has also been raised in the framework of the Commission's formal dialogue with the Government on Human Rights and Governance issues.

In India, bride burning occurs if the bride or her family are unable to meet the ever-increasing dowry demands made by the husband and his family. Bride burning should be seen in the larger context of women's subordinate position in Indian society.

Through its development programmes in the social sectors of health and education, the Commission aims to contribute to the empowerment of women in India. The Commission has ongoing commitments of nearly half a billion EUR for sector programmes in Reproductive Health, where women are the major beneficiaries, and Elementary Education, with special emphasis on districts with low female literacy.

The Commission has also funded numerous civil society and NGO programmes in India that directly deal with gender issues. One example is the establishment of a Training Institute for Women's Empowerment that was created in New Delhi with Community funds. This Institute has provided, among other things, gender training for Indian police officers, which should help raise awareness on a wide range of issues, including bride burning.

In all three countries the Commission, through its development cooperation, lays priority on improving access to and enhancing the quality of basic education, which in the medium-term should lead to changes in attitude.