How the institutional inefficiency is Proliferating the Social Evil of Gender Based Violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan: A Qualitative Analysis of Institutional Inefficiency in Propagating Gender Based Violence: A Case of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

Gender based violence is an unrelenting assault on human dignity; Granting equal and free life to all citizens without any discrimination comes under the state’s prime role. Therefore, analyzing service delivery by government institutions is necessary because formal and informal institutions are structured in societies to govern such undesirable behavior. By following that perspective in this research, the basic concept of gender and gender-based violence was analyzed. Furthermore, the challenges and gaps in institutional mechanisms that are hindering the dealing with gender-based violence victims. In this regard, qualitative research method was used by interviewing nine government officials from three different departments i.e., judiciary, police, and social welfare along with twenty women survivors from Darul Aman by using stratified purposive sampling. By correlating primary and secondary data, the study reveals that the judiciary, police, social welfare, and Darul Aman have strong coordination. Furthermore, the study indicates that one of the basic reason behind institutional inefficiency is misinterpreted concept of gender and gender-based violence among the responsible stakeholders. Moreover, it is analyzed and concluded that although judiciary has immense power and strength, still, they are prone to socio-cultural manipulation. Likewise, police, social welfare, and Darul Aman are also facing issues of lack of resources, socio-cultural and political pressures which causes inefficiency and ineffectiveness in service delivery of these departments.