Three years on, nothing much has changed

December 16, 2012 was a day when not only Delhi but India was shamed. The Nirbhaya rape case resulted in many of the citizens to acknowledge that safety and dignity of women in the city was a major concern and measures for improvement needed to be taken. However, after three years, has realisation turned into action? 

Speaking on the issue of safety of Delhi women, the Delhi Commission of Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal said that the situation of safety has not improved in Delhi. “The mindset about gender insensitivity still prevails,” Maliwal mentioned while giving the recent example of DCW’s notice to AII India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) over negligence in treating a seven-year-old rape victim.

Explaining further that why there has been no improvement in preventing rape cases in the Capital city, Maliwal pointed out — low conviction rates, less accountability of police in filing charge-sheets, poor forensic facilities and less fastrack courts as the main reasons. Elaborating on the rate of conviction, Maliwal stated that in 2014 there were only nine convictions. Maliwal criticised the Delhi Police in their approach towards filing the charge-sheets. She also pointed out the state of the foresic labs, calling them “poor”. “In a city like Delhi, we only have one forensic lab facility for testing the samples,” Maliwal mentioned.

“Less fastrack courts is also a reason for delay in justice,” a concerned Maliwal said. Asking about how juvenile sexual offenders should be treated she said: “First they need to be kept under observation. If there is no change in their behaviour, they should be tried as any other adult after they cross 18.” However, she added: “It ultimately lies on the discretion of the courts how they would treat such offenders.”

Ranjana Kumari, a prominent women activist also pointed out that the deterioration of the situation of crimes against women, particularly rape, is low rate of conviction. Kumari also advocated for severe punishment of juveniles involved in rape cases. She also pointed out that even as tests like the ‘two finger test’ was not allowed, poor medical technologies still resulted in practicing of this test is some areas harming the dignity of the rape survivors. Most of the women activists spoke of the mindset of the people and opined that it needs a change to restore equality between men and women.

Speaking strongly on the issue, Kamla Bhasin stated: 

“A simple observation of a man shamelessly urinating anywhere shows that how much the mindset requires improvement.”