MUMBAI: The revelation that the gang accused to raping a photojournalist had inflicted similar violence on women several times earlier highlights an ugly reality of our society - rapes often go unreported. An apathetic police machinery, inherently patriarchal attitudes as well as a large percentage of rape by known persons are some of the factors which contribute to this culture of silence.
Womens' groups say rape survivors who wish to speak out can seek support, even if they don't want to step into a police station. "Rape survivors can seek medical support in a hospital. Some hospitals like Bhabha Hospital have counsellors and staffers who guide women who have faced domestic violence," said Nandita Shah of voluntary organization Akshara. Unfortunately, many poor women like ragpickers and destitute women do not have the resources, knowhow or confidence to approach any authority, she added.
A lesser known fact is that survivors don't need to go to a police station to report a rape. "A girl who is raped is not required to go to a police station. Police can go to her home or wherever she is comfortable to record her statement," said lawyer Y P Singh.
Much of the silence has to do with the way cops react to a reported crime, believe those who work closely with survivors. Equally to blame are families which prefer to sweep violence under the carpet. National Crime Records Bureau figures showed 98.3% of rapes in Mumbai in 2012 were committed by those known to the survivor.
Madhu Kishwar, founder of women's journal Manushi, too believes the police machinery is to blame for under-reporting of rapes. "The experience with the police is likely to be worse than the crime. Even if the police were to register an honest FIR, the court procedures drag on for years," she explained.Mumbai: The revelation by the group of five men accused of raping a photojournalist that they had inflicted similar violence on women in the past highlights an ugly reality of our society-many such rapes go unreported and unspoken of. An apathetic police machinery, inherently patriarchal attitudes as well as a large percentage of rape by known persons are some of the factors which contribute to this culture of silence.
Womens' groups in the city say rape survivors who wish to speak out against their crime can seek support, even if they don't want to step into a police station. "Rape survivors can seek medical support in a hospital. Some hospitals like Bhabha Hospital in Bandra have counsellors and staffers who guide women who have borne domestic violence," says Nandita Shah of voluntary organisation Akshara. Shah explains that unfortunately there is a class of women like ragpickers or destitute women on the streets who put up with such crimes as a way of life, as they may not have the resources, know-how or plain confidence to approach either a hospital or a police station.
What is perhaps lesser known, is the fact that survivors don't need to go to a police station to report a rape. "A girl who is raped is not required to go to a police station. The police personnel go home or wherever she is comfortable to record her statement," says lawyer cum IPS officer Y P Singh. Women in the city can dial 103, a helpline dedicated to women, children and senior citizens and seek help over the phone.
But much of the silence has to do with the way the cops react to a reported crime, believe those who work closely with survivors. Equally to blame are families which prefer to sweep violence under the carpet. After all, statistics by the National Crime Records Bureau showed that 98.3% of rapes in Mumbai in 2012 were committed by perpetrators known to the survivor. Speaking out in such circumstances, can be extremely challenging.
A woman reporting domestic violence to the police is often asked why her husband beat her, points out Haseena Khan of Awaz-e-Niswas pointing out how such attitudes push women back into a guilt trap. Madhu Kishwar founder of womens' journal Manushi too believes the police machinery is to blame for the under-reporting of rapes. "The experience with the police is likely to be worse than the crime. Even if the cases were to do an honest FIR, the court procedures drag on for years," she explains. Kishwar believes the police have failed to crack down on lumpen elements, in fact patronising them, in many ways.
WOMEN SHOULD KNOW THEIR RIGHTS
Women are not required to go to a police station to report a rape. Police personnel can come to a home, relatives home or any comfortable setting to record details
Women in distress can dial 103, a police helpline dedicated to women, children and senior citizens
Hospitals such as Bhabha Hospital offer counselling and overall guidance to those who have borne domestic violence.
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