It Is Ironic, We Celebrate Rights Of Women, Don’t Honour Them: Delhi Court

"It is ironic that while we are celebrating women’s rights in all spheres, we show little or no concern for her honour. It is a sad reflection on the attitude of indifference of society towards the violation of the human dignity of victims of sexual crimes", said session Court judge Sunil Kumar, as per Times Of India report.  

First, honour doesn't lie in a woman's vagina, it is about respect. He is right it is ironic, right at the roots of how we perceive women. On one hand, women are called Laxmi(wealth goddess), on the other, they are controlled, overworked, and treated unequally. So, when we talk about rights, they are there but the idea that women need to be treated with respect is still aloof. The numbers on sexual crime against women are increasing, but we are ignorant of solutions. The National Family Health Survey 5 (NFHS-5) report reveals that 30% of women between the age of 18 and 49 experience physical violence since their 15th birthday and 6% are survivors of sexual violence in their lifetime. According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), India registered 31,677 cases of rape in 2021. On average 86 daily. However, no matter how many rights women have, if they don't feel safe exercising it then what is the use of celebrating women's rights? Even if they turn to court or police, justice is a far-away dream. For instant: There is no action taken yet against Vairamuthu. It has been five years since Chinmayi Sripada first sexual assault charges. The ongoing protest of Wrestlers is also a cry for justice, where wrestlers are demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The wrestlers in the police FIR shared their ordeal of years of sexual harassment. 

Delhi Court On Rape And Women's Rights

The court while sentencing the 35-year-old man in the POCSO Case (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, brought to light that crime against women is increasing, especially rape. A rapist not only violates the victim’s privacy and personal integrity but harms her psychologically as well. The court convicted the man of raping a 14-year-old mentally retarded girl in 2018. He was awarded 15 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping and sharing the recorded video of the act. The court also slapped a total fine of Rs 20,000 on the man and granted compensation of Rs 10.5 lakh to the survivor. 

Did even man think twice before committing such a heinous crime? Did he even think about a girl being a minor and mentally challenged? Did it occur to him how will it impact her mental state? No, he did not then why did he plead for a lenient sentence? On the ground of being poor, no, that is not acceptable. The court rejecting his argument said that the accused is an adult man of mature age, belonging to the poor strata of society, and being a breadwinner cannot give a lesser sentence as his poverty never drove him to commit that crime. It was the convict's mindset that made him commit the crime. 

Rape not only physically hurts, but it also leaves scars for life. Court said, “Rape is often destructive of the whole personality of the victim. A murderer destroys the physical body of his victim; a rapist degrades the very soul of the helpless female." Even if the court awarded compensation of over 10 lakhs, is it enough to bring traumatised survivors back to normal? This is not just one case, atleast the survivor got justice after five years. There are many cases, in which the accused are yet to convict. 

The 'concern for women's honour' is nowhere taught to men during social conditioning. Yes! but told to control their daughter, sister, or mother. Men think honour of related women is in their hands, and if their women even dare to talk to some men, it is problematic. No one tells them hurting someone sexually is inhuman and not just a crime. The problem starts here. Men are given the responsibility to protect the honour of related women(turned out to be overprotective) but fail to acknowledge that respecting other women is also their job. 

Suggested Reading: NFHS-5 Shows 30% Women In India Face Sexual Violence: Where Are The Laws?