KARACHI:
Finally, the Lahore High Court has declared the age-old practice of the two-finger test, a method of examining sexual assault survivors, as “illegal and discriminatory”. Owing to much global awareness regarding women rights, scientists have now declared the practice to have no forensic value. Instead, it offends the personal dignity of the female victim. The whole system and process fails to account for the psychological state of the victim, which can further worsen if such practices are conducted right after an incident. In most cases the victims aren’t even given enough time to get out of their state of trauma and can end up in severe depression.
While many people in Pakistan still criticise the role of feminists, the truth that they now need to own up to is the fact that such a decision has only come about after rigorous campaigning by feminists all over the country. The Aurat march, a protest that gained much attention but for all the wrong reasons, at least helped in bringing the plight of women to the forefront. As a result, a discourse was initiated which meant that now people were consciously thinking about the issue, whether for or against.
It is about time that scientists in Pakistan devised other, more appropriate methods for examination. SOPs first and foremost need to take the victim into account. Furthermore, the government should seriously consider revisiting existing laws and methods regarding rape and sexual violence.
Zehra Reza
Islamabad
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2021.
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