The Truth about Honor Killings
•1,000 honour killings occur in Pakistan.
•According to the United Nations, 5,000 honor killings are reported around the world each year.
•Based on a 2010 study the average age for honor killings is 15-25.
•34% of respondents in Pakistan said that honor killings of women are never justified.
•Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in 2011 ~943 women and children were murdered in honor killings. 93 were minors.
•Honor Killings lack social stigma and are often approved of by the communities in which they most often take place.
•According to the United Nations, 5,000 honor killings are reported around the world each year.
•Based on a 2010 study the average age for honor killings is 15-25.
•34% of respondents in Pakistan said that honor killings of women are never justified.
•Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in 2011 ~943 women and children were murdered in honor killings. 93 were minors.
•Honor Killings lack social stigma and are often approved of by the communities in which they most often take place.
The Determinants of Health
There are many factors that combine together to affect the health of individuals and communities. Whether people are healthy or not, is determined by their choices, circumstances and environment. Factors such as where we live, the state of our environment, genetics, our income and education level, and our relationships with friends and family all have considerable impacts on health. Our access to infrastructure and healthcare also have a lesser impact on health. According to the World Health Organization there are three main determinants of health.
Social Determinant of Health
Education - low education levels are linked with poor health, more stress and lower self-confidence.
Income and social status - higher income and social status are linked to better health. The greater the gap between the richest and poorest people, the greater the differences in health.
Gender - Men and women suffer from different types of diseases at different ages.
Health services - access and use of services that prevent and treat disease influences health.
Culture - customs and traditions, and the beliefs of the family and community all affect health.
Income and social status - higher income and social status are linked to better health. The greater the gap between the richest and poorest people, the greater the differences in health.
Gender - Men and women suffer from different types of diseases at different ages.
Health services - access and use of services that prevent and treat disease influences health.
Culture - customs and traditions, and the beliefs of the family and community all affect health.
Physical Determinant of Health
Environment - safe water and clean air, healthy workplaces, safe houses, communities and roads all contribute to good health. Employment and working conditions, people in employment are healthier, particularly those who have more control over their working conditions
Individual Determinant of Health
Genetics - inheritance plays a part in determining lifespan, healthiness and the likelihood of developing certain illnesses. Personal behaviour and coping skills, balanced eating, keeping active, smoking, drinking, and how we deal with life’s stresses and challenges all affect health.
Our Focus
At RISK we are dedicating to improving the Social Determinant of Health for women in Pakistan by leading a charge against a culture that is hostile to women at any age. From the moment of birth to eventual old age women in Pakistan are besieged by inequalities on all sides. We have chosen to focus on what we believe to be the worst, most active form of discrimination against Pakistani women, Karo-Kari. For a more complete overview of the current status of the health of women in Pakistan please refer to July 2000 report by the Asian Development Bank and Amnesty International's latest report on Pakistan.