Rape Accountability Reforms

In 2014, a 21-year-old female teacher was gang-raped in Punjab. Despite public and media outcry, a few months later the victim's father settled with the family for Pk Rs. 3 million.

What does this tell us?

Rape victims will continue to suffer from State's systematic lack of resources, training and will-power in investigation, counseling and prosecution against rape offenders. With a high burden of proof for rape allegations and lengthy proceedings, victims eventually take-back their cases out of fear, lack of agency, intimidation, shame, lack of evidence, and/or lack of support from families.

The State often tries to shy away from making difficult, but important reforms. For instance, in the matter of 8-year-old Zainab's rape and murder, the State broadened the definition of 'terrorism' for speedy results before the special yet controversial Anti Terrorism Courts. This is because the State knew that ordinary Criminal Procedure would not favor speedy/effective results in a crime of rape, and would also leave room for settlement between private parties.

A change to the evidentiary laws is necessary in order for real progress in rape-law reform. Similarly, there needs to be active law-making by State to disable 'settlement' of such allegations, where cases are not dropped simply because a male guardian unilaterally decides on behalf of a victim.

Finally, in a patriarchal society, women are constantly marginalized, even to the extent that they do not feel comfortable approaching a police station to register even a complaint. This leads to male member(s) of family taking over the matter, dealing with authorities, and ultimately deciding on behalf of the victim. Investigative agencies need to be more diverse, approachable, and less morally corrupt to enable better accessibility.