Cyber Harassment and Online Violence Against Women:A Critical Analysis of Women Protection Law Regime in Pakistan
Author: Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad Khan, Samra Irshad, H Shah Jalal Ud Din
Abstract
It is a reality that in contemporary times women are more vulnerable to cyber harassment and online violence. This research provides a recourse to explore cyber harassment laws and online violence against women in Pakistan with argumentation that women with advancement of technology need special protection. This piece of study is constricted to the extent of addressing online violence and cyber harassment and argues for the adoption and regulation of emerging online crimes against women such as cyber stalking, cyber bullying, fake ID, nude pictures/videos and deepfakes. This research culminates the gaps in the practical implementation of cyber laws in Pakistan and resorts to inquire that to what extent they provide protection for women against online violence and cyber harassment. The argument of this paper encircles around the hypothesis that women need special protection because they are more vulnerable in the digital era, however, Pakistani cyber laws remain less effective, outdated with reactive approach to provide special protection to women. To address this predicament, this piece of study delves deep to analyze the women protection laws and judicial approach in Pakistan. It also provides the best policies and practices throughout the globe to combat online violence coupled with recommendations for cyber laws in Pakistan to address the contemporary challenges of cyber harassment with critical perspective by following the qualitative approach.
Keywords
Cyber-harassment, online violence, women protection laws, crimes, special laws, electronic crimes, legal framework.
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DOI: 10.52279/jlss.07.01.1225 | 1– 25 | PDF