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Activists at a My body, My choice protest. Credit: Voicepk.net

By Zofeen Ebrahim
KARACHI, Pakistan, Jan 8 2026 (IPS)

As 2026 dawns, women in Pakistan are left grappling with a stark reality: rape and marital rape continue to be misinterpreted by judges in the country’s highest courts.

Earlier this month, Pakistan’s Supreme Court set aside a rape conviction, changing it to fornication (consensual sex out of marriage) – reducing a 20-year sentence to five years and slashing the fine from 500,000 rupees to 10,000 rupees, sparking fresh calls for better protections for Pakistani women.

“Such judgments do not give confidence to women to come out and report sexual violence perpetrated on them,” said Ayesha Farooq, chairperson of the government-notified Committee of the Anti-Rape Investigation and Trial Act, formed in 2021.

Despite protective legislation, 70 percent of gender-based violence incidents go unreported. Of those reported, the national conviction rate stands at just 5 percent, with some categories as low as 0.5 percent and domestic violence convictions at 1.3 percent.

Poor judgments may discourage survivors of sexual violence from reporting their cases to the authorities. Illustration: Kulsum Ebrahim/IPS

Senator Sherry Rehman highlighted the stark figures: in 2024, Islamabad had seven convictions out of 176 rape cases, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa one out of 258, Sindh none from 243 rape cases and Balochistan reported 21 rapes with no convictions.

Nida Aly, Executive Director of AGHS, said, “I have never felt so disappointed in our judiciary. Judges have failed as a gender-competent forum and lost credibility.”

The Supreme Court case involved a survivor who, in 2015, was raped at gunpoint while relieving herself in the woods. She reported the incident seven months later; DNA tests confirmed the accused as the father of her child. The trial court convicted him, and the Lahore High Court upheld the verdict. Yet at the Supreme Court, two of three judges reclassified the act as fornication, citing the complainant’s silence, lack of resistance, and absence of physical marks. Section 496-B of the Penal Code prescribes five years’ imprisonment and a Rs10,000 fine for fornication.

This reasoning drew sharp criticism from the National Commission on the Status of Women, which said consent cannot be inferred from silence, delayed reporting, or lack of resistance, and urged courts to recognise the realities of trauma, fear, coercion, and power imbalances in sexual violence cases.

Ironically, after the recasting of the case, the woman was exempted from punishment.

She was reminded of another case of rape in 2024, where a woman accused her brother’s friend of rape.

“The same judge converted the conviction of rape into fornication – along with arguments like “the woman showed no resistance; there were no marks of violence” and there was a two-day delay in reporting to the police.

Justice Ayesha Malik’s dissenting note arguing there was no “standardised” rulebook response by the victim emphasised consent.

Jamshed M. Kazi, Country Representative, UN Women Pakistan, said such cases resonate far beyond the courtroom. “The language used and the conclusions reached shape not only legal precedent but also social attitudes, survivor confidence, and public trust in justice.”

He added, “For survivors of sexual violence, judgements can leave lasting marks on the lives of women and girls, affecting how their experiences are believed and remembered, and may discourage reporting, reinforcing silence, fear, or self-doubt among survivors.”

Another case saw the Lahore High Court dismiss rape complaints against a husband because he was still legally married, even though he raped the woman at gunpoint. The judge, while maintaining the conduct of the man to be “immoral” and “inappropriate under religious or social norms”, said it was not a crime since the marriage continued to exist legally at the time of the incident.

“The judge focused on the validity of the marriage and completely disregarded the woman’s claim of non-consent and being subjected to forced sex at gunpoint,” pointed out Aly.

While there is no explicit provision criminalising marital rape, the Protection of Women (Criminal Law Amendment) Act, 2006 removed marriage as a defence to rape. When the definition of rape was substantially revised under the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2021, no marital exemption was reintroduced.

Between 1979 and 2006, Maliha Zia, Director, Gender, Inclusion & Development at the Karachi-based Legal Aid Society, explained, marriage operated as a defence to rape because the law defined rape as sexual intercourse by a man with a woman “who is not his wife” under specified circumstances. The deliberate removal of the words “not his wife” in 2006 therefore eliminated marriage as a defence, a position that has remained unchanged since.

“The 2006 Protection of Women Act was an important step; it corrected major injustices by separating rape from zina (unlawful sexual intercourse – including adultery and fornication),” said Dr Sharmila Faruqui, a member of the National Assembly.  “But it stopped short of clearly saying that lack of consent within marriage is also rape and that silence has allowed old assumptions to survive.”

Faruqui stressed the need for judicial sensitisation, particularly at senior levels, but noted that judges are ultimately bound by the law. “When the law is unclear, even well-intentioned interpretations can go wrong,” she said. She called for legislative clarity—through a penal code amendment or another carefully considered route—emphasising that consent, grounded in dignity and equality, must remain central regardless of marital status. “Marriage was never meant to be a license for violence.”

This was endorsed by Zia, who has been among the trainers of judges who hear GBV cases. “Much work needs to be done to constantly sensitise the justice sector on women’s experiences and the trauma they go through due to sexual violence. “Many work on the assumption that the woman is most likely lying, especially if she didn’t fight or run or report straight away,” she added.

To its credit, Pakistan, under the anti-rape act of 2021 special courts were notified to look into gender-based violence cases. To date there are 174 such courts. Unfortunately, these courts are not exclusively handling GBV cases, said Zia. But even with this limitation, rape case convictions in Sindh rose to 17 percent in 2025, from 5 percent in 2020, when such courts did not exist. “Imagine how much better it could be!” According to her, in districts where there is a high caseload of GBV, courts should be exclusive, not necessarily more.

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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 Alors que Nicolás Maduro du Venezuela fait face à des accusations aux États‑Unis, des experts se demandent si sa capture pourrait encourager la Chine et la Russie. 

 Alors que Nicolás Maduro du Venezuela fait face à des accusations aux États‑Unis, des experts se demandent si sa capture pourrait encourager la Chine et la Russie. 

Written by Anna Flynn.

The EU and China account for nearly 30 % of global trade. The EU has defined China as a ‘partner, competitor, and systemic rival.’

One of the key, current challenges is that, following the announcement of United States’ tariffs, China announced new export controls on their rare earth elements in April and October 2025. A second package was suspended until November 2026.

At the 25th EU-China Summit in Beijing, marking 50 years of diplomatic relations, the partners discussed trade, climate change, and Russia, against an ongoing backdrop of huge geopolitical shifts.

During the July 2025 summit, the EU urged China to lift its restrictions. China’s rare earth elements are difficult to source elsewhere, and simultaneously play an imperative role in the EU’s digital, defence, and green industries. According to the European Central Bank, 80 % of European firms are three intermediaries away from rare earth element producers; highlighting the value of these materials to the EU economy.

The EU’s plan to address this vulnerable, yet vital supply, is the Critical Raw Materials Act. The aim of this regulation (among other things) is to diversify the EU’s imports, support strategic projects, and strengthen EU monitoring of supply risks.

In July 2025, Parliament adopted a resolution urging the Commission to speed up the process of implementing the Critical Raw Materials Act, condemning China’s actions as unjustified and coercive.

Moreover, The EU’s trade deficit with China (€308.4 billion in 2024), is expected to rise.

Meanwhile, China’s relationship with Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is growing, in direct competition with the EU’s objective to diversify critical raw material sources. Latin America produces large amounts of lithium and copper. By 2030, the EU’s demand for lithium is expected to increase 12-fold. Chinese companies have purchased half of the world’s largest lithium mines, and China is Latin America’s second largest trading partner today.

Nevertheless, in a joint statement following the EU-China summit, both parties reiterated that major economies should bolster climate efforts. They agreed to cooperate and lead a green transition.  

A couple of months afterwards, ahead of COP30, China submitted its nationally determined contribution (NDC), or climate targets, for 2035. China’s share of global emissions increased from 9 % in 1990 to 17 % in 2024, and this is the first time that it has agreed to an absolute greenhouse gas emissions reduction.

An additional source of contention is China’s involvement with Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. At the summit, the EU stressed China’s responsibility to uphold world order and to refrain from supporting Russia’s military agenda. At the end of October 2025, the EU’s 19th package of sanctions was adopted against Russia, including sanctions on 12 entities located in China that are supporting Russia’s military and industrial complex.

This bilateral relationship will continue to carry far-reaching importance.

Links to EPRS publications

• China’s rare-earth export restrictions
• China’s 2035 climate pledge
• Economic Outlook Quarterly Final year of implementation for the recovery plans
• The third generation of national climate plans Analysis of major economies’ nationally determined contributions ahead of COP30
• China’s increasing presence in Latin America: Implications for the European Union
• EU-China relations

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L'actualité dans le secteur de la sécurité oblige les futurs élus du peuple à l'Assemblée nationale à prendre des initiatives en vue de préserver l'intégrité du territoire national, de lutter contre la criminalité à l'intérieur du pays et au niveau des zones transfrontalières.

En dehors des lois qu'il faudra voter pour densifier la législation en matière de sécurité et de défense, les députés FCBE initieront des lois pour prendre complètement en charge les familles des agents des forces de sécurité et de défense appelés au front contre le terrorisme.
Lors des votes du budget, un point d'honneur sera accordé à l'octroi de moyens aux forces de défense et de sécurité.

La création d'une force unique de sécurité intérieure sous tutelle du Ministère de l'Interieur et de la Sécurité Publique fusionnant la police et la gendarmerie pour améliorer la qualité du service de la Police Républicaine continue de nourrir des frustrations dans le rang des agents. Pour régler cette situation, des lois visant à améliorer les statuts et conditions de travail du personnel de la Police Républicaine et de l'armée en général doivent être votées pour accroître la performance des agents. Il faudra renforcer la sécurité au niveau des parcs touristiques et surtout voter des lois pour doter en permanence les Forces de défense et de sécurité de moyens adéquats pour leurs missions.

Béninoises et Béninois

Chères populations.

L' UP le Renouveau, a fait de la sécurisation des biens et des personnes ainsi que de la défense de l'intégrité de notre territoire , une préoccupation centrale. Notre conviction, c'est qu'il n' y a point de développement, si les préoccupations relatives à la Défense et à la Sécurité, ne sont pas traitées convenablement et efficacement. Or, il y a encore quelques années, la tranquillité de nos braves et paisibles populations, était perturbée, voire éprouvée, par une situation d'insécurité quasi généralisée caractérisée par des braquages, des cambriolages, et autres actes de grand comme de petit banditisme perpétré par des hors la loi. Il fallait agir et très vite. La solution devrait être structurelle et durable. Elle nécessitait une réforme profonde de la sécurité qui fait appel à des mesures législatives. L" UP le Renouveau, a pris ses responsabilités, et a joué un rôle déterminant et decisif avec sa majorité à l' Assemblée Nationale, pour l'avènement de la loi qui a consacré la création d'une force unique de sécurité intérieure par la fusion des forces existantes , la mise en commun de leurs moyens matériels et logistiques ainsi que la mutualisation de leurs ressources humaines. Les résultats au bout de quelques mois étaient visibles. Plus de protection, et de sérénité apportées à nos populations sur l'ensemble du territoire national et élimination progressive des pratiques anormales jadis imputables à nos forces de l'ordre le long des corridors. Le monde entier a témoigné de la suppression sur nos routes des postes de contrôle non pertinents qui ont contribué pendant des années à entraver la libre circulation des personnes et des biens. L'UEMOA a même décerné des lauriers à notre pays pour être devenu figure de modèle dans un espace communautaire où les tracasseries routières ne font qu' exacerber les conditions de vie de nos populations. Pour en arriver là, il a fallu la réforme de la sécurité. Il a fallu la création de la Police Républicaine. Il a fallu une loi. Il a fallu aussi que l'UP le Renouveau soit majoritaire à l'Assemblée Nationale. C'est à la reconduction et à au renforcement de cette majorité que nous vous appelons le 11 janvier 2026.

La réforme a touché aussi le secteur de la défense. Par des lois pertinentes et en solutions sur mesure, nous avons courageusement réformé les Forces Armées béninoises. Par la loi, l' UP le Renouveau a surcout accru l'engagement et la motivation des personnels de nos forces de défense et de sécurité, en veillant à ce qu' aucun soldat, aucun agent de police, blessé ou qui consent le sacrifice suprême, en défendant l'intégrité du territoire, notre patrie et ses valeurs, ne soit ni abandonné, ni oublié. L' UP le Renouveau, a en effet, avec sa majorité, œuvré à l'adoption de la loi, portant régime de prise en charge des victimes des missions commandées et de leurs ayant droits. C'est notre réponse législative de soutien aux familles de chaque enfant du Bénin qui tombe au front, dans un contexte de guerre contre le terrorisme.

L' UP le Renouveau, s'engage à continuer d'explorer toutes mesures législatives nécessaires au service de notre sécurité collective et de la défense de notre patrie.

Le 11 janvier prochain, votons tous UP le Renouveau

Béninoises, Béninois,
Chers Compatriotes,

Le 11 janvier 2026, vous élirez les députés appelés à siéger à l'Assemblée nationale pour la 10ᵉ législature, dans un contexte sécuritaire exigeant vigilance, responsabilité et unité. Depuis 2016, des réformes importantes ont été engagées pour renforcer la défense et la sécurité nationale. Les députés de MOELE-BÉNIN s'inscriront dans cette dynamique, avec la volonté de préserver les acquis et de les renforcer par une action parlementaire utile et responsable.

À l'Assemblée nationale, les députés de MOELE-BÉNIN agiront en priorité pour consolider le cadre législatif de lutte contre l'extrémisme violent, le terrorisme et les groupes armés. Ils porteront des lois adaptées aux nouvelles menaces, renforceront les dispositifs de prévention, encourageront la coopération transfrontalière et veilleront à une meilleure protection des populations vulnérables. Ils défendront également des politiques publiques cohérentes en matière d'éducation, d'emploi des jeunes et de développement local, afin de traiter les causes profondes de la radicalisation.

Les députés de MOELE-BÉNIN exerceront pleinement leur mission de contrôle démocratique des Forces de Défense et de Sécurité. Ce contrôle visera à garantir la transparence des actions, le respect des droits humains et l'efficacité des moyens engagés, dans un esprit de soutien aux forces déployées sur le terrain. Ils encourageront une coproduction de la sécurité, fondée sur un dialogue permanent entre les institutions, les forces de sécurité et les citoyens.

Convaincus que la sécurité durable passe aussi par la cohésion sociale, les députés de MOELE-BÉNIN soutiendront des programmes civiques, éducatifs et culturels en faveur des jeunes, des femmes et des groupes vulnérables, ainsi que des initiatives de développement communautaire dans les zones exposées.

Béninoises, Béninois,

Le 11 janvier 2026, votre voix comptera.

Avec les députés de MOELE-BÉNIN, le choix est celui d'une sécurité ferme, démocratique et humaine, au service de la paix, de l'unité nationale et du progrès partagé.