Spell RESPECT
It is a sad fate that by the time this post gets published,
the victim of India’s most controversial rape/slay has now died.
Raped, tortured and left to die on the street with her companion, such crime has sparked massive protests in the streets of New Delhi calling for improved protection of women and harsher punishment for rape crimes.
In India, crime against women are very common. And conviction to these crimes remain very low and complainants are often treated with harassment and ridicule.
Recently, I read a news about a 14 year old rape victim who killed herself as the Indian police urged her to just drop the case and marry her rapist.
How anyone can make such a suggestion is beyond me. And I can somehow understand why someone would view it as a condition worse than death.
It is a sad state that in India, one of the world’s largest democracy, women are told that they are not to dress attractively or travel alone.
Are the women supposed to sacrifice their femininity and independence in exchange for being safe? Why are the adjustments being made by women alone? Can’t men try to be decent and not attack innocent women?
I live in Manila, and rape happens here as much as any other country. But we do not shame our women for being victims. We do not trap them in their houses and forbid them to go out. We do not blame them for showing their hair, wearing skirts and walking out at night.
It is wrong to kill a man, no matter how badly he behaves as much as it is wrong to force a woman no matter how “provocatively” she is dressed.
I still believe that India has its share of great and decent citizens. Citizens who want a safer and better country for all. If the government won’t help, then the citizens should create within themselves ways to protect each other.
Manila is indeed a long way from India, but I believe that distance is not a hindrance to create an effect and move people into action. By writing this piece, I am telling women all over the world that the fight is not yet over.
We have a long way to go… let’s help each other along the way.
Note: Image courtesy of Trust.org
Raped, tortured and left to die on the street with her companion, such crime has sparked massive protests in the streets of New Delhi calling for improved protection of women and harsher punishment for rape crimes.
In India, crime against women are very common. And conviction to these crimes remain very low and complainants are often treated with harassment and ridicule.
Recently, I read a news about a 14 year old rape victim who killed herself as the Indian police urged her to just drop the case and marry her rapist.
How anyone can make such a suggestion is beyond me. And I can somehow understand why someone would view it as a condition worse than death.
It is a sad state that in India, one of the world’s largest democracy, women are told that they are not to dress attractively or travel alone.
Are the women supposed to sacrifice their femininity and independence in exchange for being safe? Why are the adjustments being made by women alone? Can’t men try to be decent and not attack innocent women?
I live in Manila, and rape happens here as much as any other country. But we do not shame our women for being victims. We do not trap them in their houses and forbid them to go out. We do not blame them for showing their hair, wearing skirts and walking out at night.
It is wrong to kill a man, no matter how badly he behaves as much as it is wrong to force a woman no matter how “provocatively” she is dressed.
I still believe that India has its share of great and decent citizens. Citizens who want a safer and better country for all. If the government won’t help, then the citizens should create within themselves ways to protect each other.
Manila is indeed a long way from India, but I believe that distance is not a hindrance to create an effect and move people into action. By writing this piece, I am telling women all over the world that the fight is not yet over.
We have a long way to go… let’s help each other along the way.
Note: Image courtesy of Trust.org
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