T is a truism that violence against women by men is designed to control and exercise power over women`s lives. With increasing numbers of women killed by close relatives on the pretext of defending family `honour`, it is shameful that the government continues to neglect addressing the legislative and social factors that allow perpetrators to act with impunity. Data collected from the district police office in Gujrat in Punjab, and reported in this newspaper, revealed an increase in so-called honour killings last year: 41 women were murdered on the pretext of honour and in domestic disputes in 2017 in this district alone compared to 35 the previous year. Given that most honour killings go unreported, the real number is likely to be much higher: this heinous crime is endemic in parts of Punjab. Conviction rates are abysmal, even though according to police sources arrests are made more frequently.

That is because victims` families pardon the killers almost always other family members. It is condemnable that the state, in its latest effort at tackling this scourge, failed to remove the `forgiveness` loophole from the anti-honour killing law, thereby allowing lawenforcement to take a backseat while the heinous crime continues unchecked. The apparent disinterest in instituting effective legislation has resulted in many more women losing their lives.

Regressive traditions that support murder in the name of honour are reason enough for removing punishment waivers and compoundability provisions from the law. In cases where the state becomes the prosecutor in crimes against women, perpetrators have been penalised. As a longer-term measure, changing mindsets and men`s attitudes towards women`s right to make decisions about their lives is critical for a just and equitable society. When existing legislation fails to stop the murders of young girls and women because it allows space for archaic interpretations of justice, it is the state`s duty to intervene. Instead of pandering to the conservative right, it must urgently institutionalise the protection of women on boththelegaland socialfronts.