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The trouble with hushing up and why every case of rape must be reported
For the past few years, India has reported a larger number of rape cases involving minors. The National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) report from 2020 only presents disturbing statistics.
Crime
statistics
Out
of
the
3,71,505
cases
of
crime
against
women
reported,
which
is
a
slight
drop
compared
to
2019
and
2018,
28,046
were
incidents
of
rape.
Out
of
the2,655
cases
of
rape,
2605
involves
minors
(less
than
18
years
of
age).
Rajasthan recorded the highest number of rape cases, which was 5310, involving 5337 victims, out of which 1279 were minors. Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh were right after Rajasthan, with 587 and 206 minor victims, respectively. Among Union Territories, Chandigarh reported the highest number of rape cases: 60 cases involving 60 victims, out of which 46 were minor victims.
It is important to remember that these are only the reported numbers. According to the National Family Health Survey analysis, over 99.1% of rapes go unreported in India.
Reasons
for
not
reporting
One
of
the
main
reasons
for
rape
cases
going
unreported
in
India
is
the
social
taboo.
Cases
go
unreported
because
of
the
reputation
of
the
victim's
family.
Moreover,
there
is
a
tendency
of
the
victim
herself
being
blamed.Moreover,
the
perpetrator
of
the
crime
is
often
a
family
member,
friend
or
neighbour,
so
the
matter
is
mostly
hushed
away.
Another prime reason for this is that minors do not have a proper mental capacity or enough knowledge to understand and analyse what has happened to them. The absence of evidence due to washing away (in case of oral or anal penetration), use of condoms, etc., only manages to present a sceptical case, which families often tend to ignore. The victims repress these memories until later in life or lifelong.
While these are the primary reasons for a majority of rape cases not being reported, one should also bear in mind that over a period of time the victim faces severe psychological issues
Prevention is better than cure
Educating children at a young age at both school and home about the importance of "good touch" and "bad touch" could go a long way in the prevention of rape of minors. Training them for self-defence could help them if the perpetrator manages to gain access to them. Surveillance systems in public places need to be improved to curb perpetrators further. Laws need more tightening, and punishment for perpetrators needs to be strict and immediate.
Thejudiciary has a big role to play and should be more proactive, prudent and vigilant so that these cases are fast-tracked and files relating to it don't catch dust.
All one can hope for in thefuture is that the toxic culture of rape and victim-blaming are done away with and those who have become victims of monsters indulging in pedophilia find ways to heal for now.
