Escalating Rape Cases in Punjab: Legislative Action Needed Now
June 14, 2024Since 2009, Punjab has experienced a rise in the number of reported rape incidents. Bear in mind that these numbers may not accurately reflect the actual number of victims because many women choose not to report rape for a variety of reasons, such as social stigma, victim-blaming, and misogynistic culture (which places women at the forefront of judgment and slut-shaming), threats from rapists, a weak judicial system (where rapists roam freely even after committing such a heinous crime and are not convicted), and a host of other factors.
While other criminal activities in Punjab have fluctuated over time (figure 2), reported rapes have mostly increased (figure 1), with only a couple of exceptions in specific years. Even in the years after high-profile rape incidents made headlines—like the motorway incident in 2020 and the Zainab Ansari case in 2018—we haven't observed a decline in the number of rape incidents. Because rather than ensuring that victims receive justice, most of our people were busy accusing the innocent. Sure, there were protests, but the questions of “Why and what time did she go out?” and “What was she wearing?” worried people more than anything else. The proper question, which people neglected to pose, was, “What makes a rapist commit such a heinous act? And what can we at the grassroots level do to ensure nobody ever dares to commit such a crime?”
These figures, despite their underrepresentation, serve as reminders that our society and culture incite an environment in which rapists can act without fear of repercussions. Therefore, the government and legislators must take steps to ensure a safe environment for its citizens, particularly women.
By Sarah Maham