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Editorial
 Despite relatively uninformed and unprepared acceptance of globalization as a consumer good, it appears rather strange that marriage market is still intact in Pakistan. Marriage is an important event in the life of a Pakistani woman. Getting married early is being lucky. Obligatory Jahez takes a heavy toll on the family of dulhan - the bride. Dowry is a multi-faceted deep-rooted gender issue with social, economic and health consequences. In spite of a consensus on disliking the practice, a few have the courage to disown it.
Dowry popularly referred as a Hindu custom has visibly migrated, escalated and embraced in all the areas of the present day Pakistan. It has become an active tradition, norm and religious practice for those who believe that there is an absence of such custom and tradition in their faith. The implication of this convenient forgetfulness is inattentiveness to dowry-related violence.
Ironically, in spite of a very high frequency of domestic violence and cases of stove deaths, dowry-related violence is neither perceived and recognized as accepted form of violence nor documented in social sciences. Therefore, unfortunately it is not a popular theme or priority agenda item for organizations working on women's issues.
There could be three possible reasons for this convenient forgetfulness. One is the spiral of silence and sharam, which implies that woman, related issues must not be taken out of the premises of home for the sake of honor. Second is the ironical fact that attention to the role of dowry in our marriage system has not gained deserved attention of international donors. Therefore, the hype stirred by comparable social problems like child labor or environment, overshadowed a traditional area like dowry and related issues. Thirdly, the Ministry of women development in Pakistan has yet to acknowledge dowry and dowry-violence as gender issues.
Recently, the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan organized a two-day workshop in collaboration with the AGEHI Resource Center, SACHET to discuss the proposed amendments in the existing laws regarding marriage expenses and dowry restriction. That was not only a very positive step but a historical event in many ways. We hope that the spirit behind this effort would be kept alive and a law reflecting stakeholders` participation would be soon finalized. The need of the time is to analyze our problems with our own eyes rather than relying on the visions created elsewhere.
Dr. Rakhshinda Perveen
Selected Reproductive Health Indicators of South Asian Countries
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