With two days to go before International Women’s Day is celebrated, a DAP lawmaker has urged the government to form a special commission to eradicate violence against women.
Kasthuri Patto says it is high time a commission is formed to eradicate violence against women
DAP MP for Batu Kawan Kasthuri Patto in a statement today said it is high time a commission is formed that comprises members of the executive, civil society, academicians, counsellors, enforcement agencies and non-governmental organisations to implement changes needed to end gender-based violence.
Kasthuri, who is also vice-chairman of Wanita DAP, said as of June 2014, rape cases in Malaysia average around 3,000 per year which translates to an average of eight rape cases a day, of which only 10% are reported to the authorities, according to a report by the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO).
“In 2013, 2,111 men were reported to have raped girls under 18, but only 461 of them were charged and only 14 convicted. This means only 0.6% of the total number of reports lead to a conviction, and in the All Women’s Action Society (AWAM) survey from 1994 to 1998, only 10% of reported cases end in successful conviction of the rapist,” she said.
Her statement comes in the wake of a documentary titled ‘India’s Daughter’, which is based on the brutal 2012 Delhi rape.
The Delhi rape was the fatal rape and assault of a 23-year-old student in South Delhi by a gang of six men. The victim was travelling with a male friend, whom the rapists beat up before brutally violating her. She died of her injuries 13 days after the attack.
“In a shocking confession by the 2012 Delhi rapist, as filmed by Leslee Udwin (who made India’s Daughter), the rapist said the victim shouldn’t have fought back, and this just goes to show what a long way we have to go to ensure that society is educated on the cardinal importance of respecting women and that no man or woman has the right to force himself or herself on another person,” Kasthuri said.
Kasthuri said, a written reply to her Parliamentary question on whether the government has any intention to form a commission to handle violence against women, received a disappointing answer.
In India, it is estimated that four women are raped every hour.
(image from www.opposingviews.com)
“The answer was that while the government is serious in combating violence against women, there have been amendments to laws, a support mechanism as well as advocacy. But for this moment, the government expresses its gratitude on the suggestion and that it will consider forming a commission to handle violence against women. Needles to say I was disappointed,” she said.
She said that despite the laws in India which confers absolute equal rights to women, rape cases continued to happen — up to 92 rapes everyday, an average of four each hour.
“And one has to bear in mind that only one in 10 rapes are reported in India; and India is the best example of a country that has laws conferring equal rights to women but the increase in the number of rape cases continue despite such laws.
“What Malaysia has are laws both old and new which need greater emphasis, enforcement and improvement. What this country needs is a society that respects women and the government has a big role to play to ensure that society does just that.
This country needs a government that walks the talk as far as education, awareness and protecting women is concerned,” she added.
– The Rocket
