KARACHI:
There can be no justification for rape. Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recent interview on HBO has marked another round of condemnation by the dissenting class. His view that the issue of rape is connected to lack of modesty is a gross manifestation of victim-blaming. Nevertheless, expressing an opinion at an international forum should have been done subtly, since it echoes across the globe.
Article 5 of the UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women explicitly states that it is the responsibility of the state to provide protection to women, irrespective of their culture, ethnicity or race. So, by no means can a state absolve itself of the responsibility of providing protection to women who dress indecently. Even our national laws, such as Section 375 of the Pakistan Penal Code, guarantee security to women against rape.
Putting the entire onus on women’s clothing seems like an easy escape on the part of the Prime Minister and the government when it comes to dealing with the issue. The government should instead ensure that women are protected by the law and by law enforcement agencies, otherwise such issues will continue to persist across the country.
Michael Samuel
Rawalpindi
Published in The Express Tribune, July 2nd, 2021.
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