ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION

 

Despite holding candlelight marches and protests, we have not seen any tangible outcomes in addressing these persistent issues. Women are not safe even within their homes. They often face threats of security, sexual abuse from near and dear and from their husbands.

The marital rape gained momentum in the light of a recent judgement by the Chhattisgarh High Court, in which the convicted causing wife’s death through rape and sexual assault, the court stated that under section 375 IPC (1860) the act does not constitute ‘rape. ‘Astonishingly, the court acquitted the man of the charges of murdering, despite the victim’s dying declaration implicating him. This brought significant attention to the gravity of this serious issue.

 The challenges faced by women, particularly in South Asian and Middle Eastern countries, highlight the urgent need for continuous dialogue and action to promote equality and fair treatment for all women. The World Health Organization (WHO), on a global scale, has estimated approximately one in three women have endured either physical or sexual violence in their life time.

Despite societal aspirations of modernity and progressiveness, these stark statistics unveil contrasting reality. The celebration of March 8th, every year as the International Women’s Day, highlights the importance on the achievements of women worldwide, raises an important question as to why “Recognition of Women’s Day” is limited to one day instead of considering it an ongoing need for respect, acknowledgement and support throughout the year.

These heinous acts are not confined to women; children too frequently remain vulnerable to such transgressions. The enduring ramifications of these traumatic experiences significantly impede their trajectory into adulthood. Many children grapple with depression; encounter formidable challenges in establishing interpersonal connections and cultivating trust, which can consequently precipitate diminished self-esteem. Pertinently, UNICEF has reported that "more than 370 million girls and women alive today, or one in eight, experienced rape or sexual assault before the age of 18."

The recent case reported by the Times of India (TOI) in Feb 2025, about a five-year-old girl who was raped by 17-year-oldneighbour in MP, is one more glaring incident of this nature. The victim was found in a puddle of blood with bite marks and injuries all over her body and the rapist banged her head against the wall repeatedly. This incident exposes the psychological state and the sex perverted nature of an adolescent mind. It also opens up plethora of questions on the illiteracy, underdevelopment and degraded values of humanity.

 Not only women, but men also become victims to both sexual and domestic violence. The distressing case of a 34-year techie Subhash from Bengaluru that led to his suicide was reported outcome of mental torture by his wife. While physical abuse is easy to recognize, emotional and psychological abuse is often overlooked. These aforesaid instances raise a serious question as to whether men are unequivocally secure from such offenses. Statistical data concerning male sexual abuse is demonstrably concerning.

According to criminal helpline in the UK, by the culmination of Mar 2022, 2.3% of all adults and 1.2% of men reported experiencing sexual abuse. According to National statistics (ONS) data March 2023, 7 51,000 men, or 3.2% experienced domestic abuse, highlighting that one in three victims are male, and emphasizing that men can suffer in silence and that women can also be aggressors. With such distressing statistics on violence against men, women, and children.

Also, the offenders often being from any gender. The moot questions remain, how safe are we? Who is responsible for all this and what factors contribute to this pervasive nature of such abuse? Is the society responsible, are the individuals accountable, or is it the mentalities or the combination of all these factors that is responsible for this social menace? Well, this complex issue necessitates understanding individual behaviours and prevailing socio-cultural norms that may further perpetuate violence and insecurity in society.

To me, values are fundamental aspect that every family must impart within. Moral standards must be taught to the young by parents. By inculcating the humanistic values, a society can foster a safer environment to thrive on.

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Courtesy: SHIKHA ZALPURI KAPIKA  and  Spade A Spade-May 2025