Paradoxically, our otherwise divided society has a strange commonality in itself – belief in subjection and inferiority of womenfolk. Almost everywhere male chauvinistic attitudes have ossified this universal image. This attitude has a faster hue in rural and tribal areas where women are supposed to live in complete subordination to men; situation in urban areas is generally considered better though not always. The historical roots of this may be traced back to the Indo-Pakistan civilisation where women were considered to be born in subjection.
Countless women suffer from battery, rape, burning, acid attacks and mutilation. The estimated percentages of women who experience spousal abuse alone range from 70 to upwards of 90 percent. If there is anything more disturbing than the prevalence of these crimes, it is the impunity with which they are committed. Rape is one of these crimes which carry huge socio economic cost for the victims. Although there is a need to address the issues related to criminal justice system to create effective deterrence in the society and this aspect of the issue is not altogether ignored by the policy makers and helmsmen. However, the miserable life of victim in the society has remained obscure due to one or the other reasons rooted in our particular cultural and societal ethos.
The problem merits concerted efforts from our media, policy makers, religious clerics, helmsmen in criminal administration, women rights activists and international donors. In order to address this social and economic crisis for rape victims the foremost important matter in order to address this issue is changing the mindset of the public.
Education being the catalyst of developing minds should be used as a tool to create a positive mindset about women in society. This will be a gradual but everlasting approach because the collective social behaviour is intricately linked to socio-psychological makeup which students take up during the formative phases of their education.
Economic independence by women can provide partial solution to the extent that if a rape victim becomes economically independent their family will not at least consider her an economic burden on it though social problem will persist. One of the practical steps towards creating institutional support for such victims is to create a supervisory organisation with some quasi judicial powers. The National Commission on the Status of Women already exists, although without necessary teeth to deal with the situation.
MUHAMMAD HAROON RAFIQUE
Lahore
