Islamophobia threatens global peace and coexistence, not just Muslims, says MWL chief at UN    Power bank likely caused South Korea plane fire, investigators say    Gold prices hit $3,000 for the first time as investors push the panic button    Hungary drops veto and agrees to prolong EU sanctions on Russian individuals    China hits out at 'threats of force' on Iran as Trump pushes for new nuclear deal    Makkah Lanterns Festival returns for the eighth year as part of Ramadan activities    Crown Prince receives Yazeed Al-Rajhi after historic Dakar Rally 2025 victory    SR17 million fines slapped on 16 individuals and companies convicted of violating Capital Market Law    Saudi Arabia welcomes border agreement between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan    Saudi ambassadors take oath before Crown Prince    16 endangered species released into AlUla's Protected Areas    Saudi Crown Prince reaffirms support for a political solution to Ukraine crisis in call with Putin Putin praises Saudi Arabia's constructive role and mediation efforts    NCM forecast: Thunderstorms to hit most Saudi regions until Monday    Saleh Al-Shehri's late penalty rescues Al Ittihad against Al Riyadh    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Man lives for 100 days with titanium heart in successful new trial    Argentinian court begins trial of seven healthcare professionals over Maradona's death    Al Hilal crushes Pakhtakor to storm into AFC Champions League quarter-finals    Singer Wheesung who wooed Korea with his ballads, found dead at 43    Prince Frederik of Luxembourg dies from rare disease    Real-life shipwreck story wins major book award    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Why safety eludes Indian women
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 09 - 05 - 2016

India's southern state of Kerala has exploded in revulsion and anger over the rape, murder and mutilation of a 30-year-old law student. The case has disturbing parallel with the gang-rape and torture of a 23-year-old girl in New Delhi in 2012. What has enraged the people is the police inaction in the crucial first hours or days after the murder, which took place on April 28 and the fact that police failed to act on earlier complaints from the family. That the victim belonged to a lower caste has added a political dimension to the protests over the police failure to apprehend the culprit or culprits though many people have been taken into custody and questioned.
In recent years, New Delhi has earned the title of "rape capital" of India, but women regularly face sexual harassment and assault in all parts of the country. The crime can take place anywhere. The Delhi student Jyothi Singh was attacked and molested in a private bus while the Kerala girl Jisha met with a brutal end in her home where she was found by her mother in a pool of blood.
It was Singh's case that shot the problem of sexual violence in India to global prominence. Although that incident led to an overhaul of India's rape laws, the problem persists. Every 20 minutes, a woman is raped in India. The latest official figures show that 36,735 rapes were reported across the country in 2014.
Surprisingly, even Kerala with its highest literacy rate, the highest women's literacy at 92 percent and a healthy sex ratio (966 per 1,000 men) is no different when it comes to women's safety. According to the data on the Kerala Police website, the number of rape cases rose to 1,263 in 2015 from 1,132 four years ago. The incidence of rape in Kerala is 63 per 100,000 population, while the national average stands at 56.3. Last week there were three other cases of rape or sexual assault in the state and the victims included a minor girl and an old woman.
India toughened its anti-rape laws in response to the outcry following the 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder. Several new laws were passed and six new fast-track courts created to hear rape cases, but it did not have the desired impact. One reason is India's court system is painfully slow. The country has about 15 judges for every 1 million people, while China has 159. For rapes that do get reported, India's conviction rate is no more than 26 percent. There is also no law against other forms of sexual harassment.
Shortage of female police officers is another problem. Studies show that women are more likely to report sex crimes if female police officers are available. Indian police have been found to be insensitive when dealing with crimes against women. Some police officers ask rape victims or their relatives vulgar questions. This as well as the stigma attached to rape prevents many women from approaching the police. An 18-year-old woman in the Indian state of Punjab who was raped by two men killed herself because the police delayed registering the case or arresting the rapists. A 17-year-old girl, a victim of gang rape, killed herself after police pressured her to drop the case and marry one of the rapists. In June 2015, in a much-condemned order, the Madras High Court asked a man, sentenced to seven years for raping a minor, to "settle the matter by mediation" meaning that he marry her.
"It would be a true homage to her memory if we are able to channelize these emotions and energies into a constructive course of action," said then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh referring to Jyothi Singh's tragic end. The Kerala girl's death proves that if there was a "course of action", it was neither constructive nor one addressing the gravity of the situation.


Clic here to read the story from its source.