Author: Riya Nagpal, II year of B.Com.,LL.B. from Institute of legal studies Panjab University
INTRODUCTION
In 2018, a new survey was released by Thomas Reuters Foundation, which is a charitable organization under Thomas Reuters and according to this survey, India is the worst and the most dangerous country in the world for women.[1]
Rape is the most common term heard nowadays. In India, crime against women is increasing at a high rate especially rape as crime data reveals that a little more than 57 rapes were reported every day. Rape means “The penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.” [2]
REASONS WHY INDIA HAS AN INCREASING NUMBER OF RAPE CASES
Firstly, the victims are advised by their families to stay away from the haphazard caused after rape in the police station. That’s why most of the rape cases are not even registered in India.
Secondly, there is no public safety for women in India. There are many laws framed to prevent the victims of rape, still, there is a problem in the implementation of laws.
RAPE CULTURE
It is defined as a society or environment whose prevailing social attitudes have the effect of normalizing or trivializing sexual assault and abuse. The first pillar of rape culture is to ‘Blame the Victim’. Some people blame the girls for rape by saying that the way girls wears western dresses, jeans, boys get attracted to seeing them. They believe that girls, especially college going girls, wear “provocative clothes” which invite the attention of their male counterparts, which ultimately leads to an increase in crime against women. While some people believe that rape is happening because our youth is being wrongly influenced by cinema and T.V. They think that girls should be married at the age of 16, so that they have their husbands for their sexual needs and don’t need to go elsewhere. They go to markets and malls late at night. This way they blame the girls for rape. Thirdly they believe that girls make friends and then, later they face the results of keeping a bad company. They believe that housekeeping and housework are for girls and they do not leave the house unless they have some work. There is no dearth of things to blame for rape. Everything can be blamed for rape except the rapists and the state rape culture.
I want to mention one instance that shook me. This incident is of Haryana’s Mankawas village where a 17-year-old was raped. But even as she recovered from her injuries in hospital. Neighbours questioned her character and blamed her for getting raped. So there is a need to prevent rape by punishing rapists and making India safer for women.
LANDMARK CASES RELATED TO RAPE
8- MONTH -OLD BABY WAS RAPED IN DELHI
An 8-month-old baby was raped by her 28-year-old cousin in Delhi. Her parents had left her in the care of their relatives as they left for work; however, her mother returned to find her baby raped and abandoned, lying in a pool of blood. The little one has already undergone three surgeries and needs extensive medical treatment to heal completely.[3]
So what's the excuse now?? Late-night ?? short dress?? drunk girl??.
KATHUA RAPE CASE
The case Vishal Jangotra @Shamma And Anr. v. Union Of India also named as Kathua Rape Case. The horrific Kathua gang rape has resulted in worldwide protests. The eight-year-old victim was held in a temple and gang-raped repeatedly. The minor was sedated, raped, sedated again and then gang-raped.
NIRBHAYA GANGRAPE AND MURDER CASE
The 23-year-old medical student was brutally gang-raped on a moving bus in Delhi on 16 December 2012 and the entire nation was shocked to learn about the gruesome Nirbhaya rape and murder case.
Finally four convicts — Vinay Sharma, Mukesh Singh, Pawan Kumar and Akshay Kumar Singh — have been hanged to death on Friday, 20 March, in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case. The case was often described as rarest of the rare by the Supreme Court, the victim, a 23-year-old paramedic student, gets justice after over seven long years[4].
HYDERABAD VETERINARIAN CASE/ PRIYANKA REDDY RAPE CASE
In the case, G.S. Mani v. Union of India, a 26-year-old Hyderabad veterinarian, on her way home, was allegedly raped and burnt. Her body was found on Friday, 29 November, about 50 km from Hyderabad city. The incident has sent shockwaves across the nation[5].
CONCLUSION
The cases of rape in India is rising steadily. The punishment for such heinous offences is less and it is really important to educate our society regarding their legal rights as well as duties and spread more awareness. In most cases, victims are unable to live their normal life again. Therefore, it is very significant for us as a member of society to help the victims, to lead a peaceful and fearless life ahead.
[1] Exclusive: India most dangerous country for women with sexual violence rife - global poll
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-women-dangerous-poll-exclusive-idUSKBN1JM01X (last visited April 1, 2021).
[2] An updated definition of rape https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/blog/updated-definition-rape#:~:text=The%20new%20definition%20is%3A,the%20consent%20of%20the%20victim.%E2%80%9D&text=It%20also%20recognizes%20that%20rape,traumatic%20as%20penile%2Fvaginal%20rape. (last visited April 2, 2021).
[3] 8-Month-Old Allegedly Raped By Cousin In Delhi Shifted To AIIMS https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/8-month-old-allegedly-raped-by-cousin-in-delhi-shifted-to-aiims-1807340 (last visited April 1, 2021).
[4] 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Delhi_gang_rape_and_murder (last visited April 2, 2021).
[5] G.S.Mani vs Union Of India on 12 December, 2019https://indiankanoon.org/doc/65295726/ (last visited April 3, 2021).