My chosen Social Issue

Social Issue: Challenging the culture of honor killings and how even doing the right thing can make someone a target in a society bound by rigid, oppressive traditions.

Honor killings are a massive problem in Pakistan, rooted in the idea of "family honor." They happen when someone, usually a woman, is killed because they’re seen as having brought shame to their family. This can be for something as basic as wanting to marry someone of their choice, asking for a divorce, or even being a victim of assault. It’s shocking that despite laws being passed against it, honor killings still happen because of how deeply ingrained this mindset is in our society.

One famous case is Qandeel Baloch’s murder. She was a social media influencer who was killed by her brother in 2016. Her story became a symbol of how women who challenge societal norms are targeted. It sparked outrage but also showed how slow change is. Other cases have gotten attention, but so many go unnoticed, especially in rural areas where tribal and feudal systems dominate.

The effects of this are devastating, not just for the victim but for their families, especially if they stand up for what’s right. Survivors or families who fight for justice are often ostracized or threatened. Films like Verna have tried to bring attention to this issue, but it’s still hard to make a real impact when society resists change. Even with laws like the 2016 amendment that closed legal loopholes allowing families to forgive killers, enforcement remains a huge issue.