What happened:

The Ministry of Human Rights launched a free helpline to report domestic abuse nationwide, on Thursday, in an effort to combat violence against women.

Raise your voice against violence and abuse on our national 1099 toll free helpline. You can also download the app to file complaints on the google playstore! #16days @unwomen_pak @EUPakistan @ncswpk pic.twitter.com/thpGsi5AvI

— Ministry of Human Rights (@mohrpakistan) November 26, 2020

The helpline can be used by calling 1099, or through the app, Helpline 1099, launched by the ministry.

“Every woman/girl has the right to live her life safely and free of violence,” the ministry’s official account tweeted.

Every woman/girl has the right to live her life safely and free of violence. Help us end violence against women and girls with our national 1099 helpline app. Raise your voice and report any act of abuse or violence #16Days @unwomen_pak @EUPakistan pic.twitter.com/v0oidFXPDH

— Ministry of Human Rights (@mohrpakistan) November 26, 2020

The background:

This helpline has been launched a day after the Government of Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to empower women and end violence against on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25.

In 2020, Pakistan is ranked at number 151 out of 153 countries on the Global Gender Gap Index report published by the World Economic Forum. Per a 2019 report of the National Institute of Population Studies, 24.5 % of Pakistani girls and women aged 15-49 experience intimate partner physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime.