خواتین کے حقوق کے حوالے سے عصری تحدیات:تحقیقی مطالعہ

Contemporary Challenges to Women's Rights: A Research Study

Abstract

Women's rights remain one of the most critical and challenging issues in the contemporary world. Despite guarantees of equality, protection, education, livelihood, inheritance, and political participation in international laws, Islamic teachings, and national constitutions, women across various societies continue to face stark realities of inequality, gender discrimination, violence, economic exploitation, and legal complexities. This chapter examines several key contemporary challenges to women's rights, including gender discrimination, domestic violence and sexual harassment, limited access to education, deficiencies in legal protection, economic exploitation, and digital and social media violence. Each issue is analyzed within both international and Pakistani contexts, with a specific focus on the perspective offered by Islamic teachings. The analysis reveals a significant gap between the comprehensive rights granted to women by Islam—such as dignity, education, economic independence, and legal autonomy—and their practical implementation, which is often hindered by cultural prejudices, misinterpretations of religious texts, and institutional weaknesses. The central argument posits that the solution to these multifaceted challenges does not lie solely in enacting more laws or blindly adopting external models. Instead, it requires a genuine understanding and application of the Islamic paradigm of gender justice, which emphasizes equity and balance rather than mere identically. Effective resolution necessitates a holistic approach involving social and religious reforms, sensitization of law enforcement and judiciary, public awareness based on Islamic ethics, and educational empowerment. Ultimately, aligning societal practices with the core principles of Islamic justice is essential for overcoming these challenges and establishing a balanced and equitable society where women's God-given rights are fully realized.