Justice for rape victims

WAR revealed the shocking statistic that only 3% of rape cases in Karachi result in convictions against the accused.

At a press conference in Karachi, representatives of War Against Rape (WAR) revealed the shocking statistic that only three per cent of rape cases in the city result in convictions against the accused. This absurdly low conviction rate is also an indictment of the entire system, including the police, prosecutors and a public that seems not to be too bothered by the issue. There are many reforms that need to be immediately instituted if rape survivors are to be given justice.

The problem starts with rape victims trying to file FIRs. In far too many cases, the police choose not to register an FIR immediately, instead passing judgment on the character of the victim. This allows alleged culprits enough time to make a run for it and evade justice. Even if an FIR is registered, there are major technological hurdles to securing a conviction. The victim’s testimony alone is rarely enough to convince judges. But corroborating evidence in the form of medico-legal examinations is not always forthcoming. DNA testing is still a rarity in Pakistan and so many rape cases result in acquittals simply because of lack of evidence. This leads to rape survivors often choosing to accept out-of-court settlements rather than relying on a fickle justice system. Ideally, the guilty should not be allowed to avoid jail time with an out-of-court settlement.

Societal attitudes, too, need to be changed to improve the rate of convictions in rape cases. The reason why the police are quick to label rape survivors as morally loose women or sex workers is because they, like the rest of the country, have fallen victim to religious propaganda. The lack of female policemen, prosecutors and judges — in a society which doesn’t encourage women to take up these professions — also contributes to the low conviction rate. This denial of justice should shock our conscience and lead to immediate action so rape victims can have their day in court.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2011.