Saluting their courage

We need to respect all rape survivors and salute their courage for living on despite physical and mental trauma.

The story of a rape victim, *Tasneem, at Jalozai IDP camp is heart-rending. Rape is not uncommon in our country. There are many more Tasneems in this country who are prone to social injustices and have nowhere to go to for the redress of their grievances. In fact, most rape cases go unreported because of the stigma attached to them. Authorities either do not take appropriate action against the rapist or victimise the rape survivors by fielding accusatory questions and/or by simply being insensitive. Those women who do report rape cases have to face further trials and tribulations at the hands of our society.

Unfortunately, our public health sector fails to provide proper physical and psychological treatment to rape victims. Patriarchy leaves girls and women highly vulnerable to being harmed physically, psychologically or sexually by the men in their families and communities. Combating violence against women requires challenging the way that gender roles and power relations are articulated in society, especially in rural areas where women have a low status. They are considered inferior and there is a strong belief that men are superior to them and even own them. The state often lays the blame on our patriarchal, feudal, conservative society but the sad reality is that rapists know full well that, in most cases, they will get away with their horrible crime. It is the responsibility of the state to deal with these sick-minded people.

Given that gender-based violence is so widespread here, the relative lack of empathy towards rape victims is astonishing. We, as a nation, need to respect all rape survivors and salute their courage for living on despite going through physical and mental trauma. Even if bills protecting the rights of women are passed, hardly are they ever adhered to. It is clear that mere laws are not enough to get rid of exploitation, discrimination and oppression of women. It is necessary to overthrow the patriarchal system prevalent in our society to guarantee women full freedom and liberty.

*Name has been changed to protect identity

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2013.