Since it’s been several years since Disposable People was published, I often hope that maybe the problems I’m reading about are fix by now, or at least getting better. (It’s naieve, I know.) Here’s a New York Times article by Nicolas Kristof that highlights many of the same cultural problems in Pakistan that are discussed in Disposable People: brutality toward women, familial shame and silence regarding crimes against women, and corrupt law enforcement. However, there’s something different and hopeful here: Someone is standing up! Assiya Rafiq was raped by thugs and police. Instead of committing suicide, which is a culturally logical decision to spare her family shame, she’s prosecuting her attackers and the police. There aren’t words to describe just how gutsy (and dangerous) this move is. If she sees success, and even if she doesn’t, other women and families may be inspired to stand up to violence and intimidation and hold the goverment and law enforcement accountable for protecting citizens.

On his blog, Kristof also discussed the way the feudal system of Pakistan prevents progress.