Mangalore, Jan 5: The shame and stigma associated with rape is the reason that several rape victims hesitate to report the crime and remain silent about it, said chairperson of Child Welfare Committee and advocate Asha Nayak, at an awareness programme on the atrocities of women in the country.
Speaking at a panel discussion at the programme organised by St Agnes College at the college auditorium on Saturday, she said that there were sufficient laws to deal with cases of harassment and sexual abuse on women.
Enforceability of these laws is the main problem. Reasons such as delay in reporting crimes, victims (and their families) threatened by the accused, dilution of cases by the police, unwitting damage/destruction of evidence and compromise by the victims, are the top causes why the accused in several rape cases get acquitted during their trials. Sometimes, the accused pays a large sum of compensation to the victim, resulting in withdrawal of cases. This gives a message to several that one get away with crimes such as sexual abuse and rape, which is exactly what is happening in the country, she said.
Stating that every person had a duty as a citizen, she said that the society as well as each part of the system was responsible for crimes on women. “In India, we are more concerned what the society thinks, rather than ourselves. Lack of knowledge among women of several laws dealing with sexual abuse is another drawback. The number of rape cases on minors in the district is disheartening and pathetic. It is high time for each person to be aware of the existing laws, as ignorance of laws is not an excuse.”
Citing the example of the Mangalore pub attack case, she said that the perpetrators were acquitted and allowed to walk free, merely because of lack of witnesses. “No person or girl came forward to testify against the accused, resulting in the criminals' acquittance,” she said.
Although rape is a punishable offence under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code with a sentence of seven years, death penalty cannot be ruled out in the case of the Delhi gang-rape. It was highly brutal. But any change in the law will only affect cases in the future, and not have retrospective effect, said the advocate.
Giving inputs to the students during the panel discussion, social activist Vidya Dinker said that merely changing the law would not help achieve anything. “Rape is not going to go away just because laws are changed. The change has to start from us, the way we treat each other at homes, in schools and colleges and elsewhere,” she said.
Following the panel discussion, Joma Joseph along with undergraduate degree students demonstrated Karate skills to the students. Group songs on the theme were sung by NSS volunteers, followed by a PPT presentation and dance ballet to highlight the exploitation of women during various stages of their lives.
A signature campaign was launched on the occasion, which would be submitted along with a memorandum to concerned authorities, pressing for stringent punishment to the accused in the Delhi gang-rape incident.
Head of PG Department of English Dr Geralyn Pinto moderated the panel discussion. Staff co-ordinator Dr Devi Prabha Alva from Department of Commerce welcomed the panellists and the gathering. Head of PG Department of English Dr Malini Hebbar compered the programme.
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