Another way to life!

What to 'keep' and what to 'let go'

Rape as a global issue.

According to United Nation 8th survey on crimes trends and the operations of criminal justice systems, annually more than 250,000 cases of rape or attempted rapes are reported to police. These are number of reported cases and according to Italian National Statistic Institute (ISTAT) a report on violence against women says 91.6% of rape cases go unreported. The horrible fact is we don't know the exact number of cases even for most developed countries to third world countries. Rape is most under reported crime and there are multiple reasons. In most of cases, victim knows the rapist. Familial relations or family pride get in and don't let the victim, speak. Sometimes victims are not aware of their rights or they don't have the ability to raise voice for themselves, specially in case of intellectually disable individuals. According to Journal of child sex abuse, research revealed 87% of individuals with intellectual disabilities are sexually abused by caregivers or service providers. Again, exact figures aren't known. 

Another obstacle is, no unified definition of rape and sex assault in law of different countries. Marital rape, rape by male to male, rape by female to female are yet to be defined as crime by many countries. Even in countries where the issue is legislated, there is a major void in implementation of laws. Gulnaz the Afghan woman forced to marry her rapist, she was jailed for adultery after being raped. After three years of prison,she was pardoned. Pardoned for what ? For being raped and then was forced to marry her rapist. In her interview she gave few statements :

"I didn't have any other option, my family didn't want me and I don't have anyone else, In the end I had to do it. He dishonored me but this is the way my daughter will have a father, I want my daughter to become something as I was nothing."

These sort of rehabilitating marriages has a long history in Italy's law too. In 1981 this practice was abolished and law was changed in Italy. Civilizations like United States and China are prone to this too. RAINN, a national anti-sexual organization, claims that in every 73 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. Rape is highly stigmatize crime in china, which is not openly discussed but in 2007 there were 31,833 rape cases in China according to US department of State. On the other hand Mukhtaran Mai, globally recognized gang rape survivor had gone through societal oppression and rage of feudal lords because she stood up for her rights. International media's attention and involvement of international organizations did not let the brutal forces to win and Mukhtaran Mai got justice after a long struggle. 

The most under-reported crime even when it is reported, justice isn't easy thing. Victim has not only to go through psychological disturbance, secondary victimization (victim has go through stigmatization and ruthless behavior of society), victim blaming but also delayed justice in some cultures and no justice at all in many cultures. They say "justice delayed is justice denied" but the cases like Gulnaz challenge the existence of justice itself. 

Important questions we have to deal with 

Whatever and whoever Forays basic human rights, should not be accepted or approved by individual and society too. From the stone age to this modern civilized human society, in a journey of 3.4 million years, if we did not learn to respect other's opinion and their consent then what we did ? What kind of civilization we claim on ? What ''humanity'' we preach everyday ? and what gives us right to call ourselves "human beings" ? 

If you think "I am not society and I am not accountable for others." Then be accountable for yourself and your surroundings. And If you think "I am the society" then take the charge. Best answers come out of actions not words but it is always important to put the right questions in front of us. 

Questions to keep, stigmas to let go. Lessons to keep and sufferings to let go.