Justice for an abused, mentally challenged girl

The news report by our Thakurgaon correspondent is both tragic and infuriating. A 50-year-old married man, a father, has been accused of continuously raping a mentally challenged teenage girl while her parents —day labourers—would go for work. The girl is now 33 weeks pregnant. The details of this horror story came out when the girl's father filed a case against the alleged rapist after his brother stabbed the victim's brother in retaliation and no doubt, to intimidate her family.

While the details of the case may seem unique, the acute vulnerability of mentally challenged girls and women in this country is not. Being easy victims, the mentally challenged have no voice to represent them and no support from their society, sometimes even from their family, when such abuses occur. This case, in particular, illustrates how social stigma and the power of influence lead to continued victimisation of a rape survivor. This is true for all girls and women who suffer sexual assault, but when they are physically or mentally challenged the vulnerability increases even more. Unfortunately, as a society, we are not at all compassionate about the needs of these individuals and treat them with utter callousness.

This is why this helpless teenager had to endure months of sexual abuse. This is why the mother was compelled to ask for help from the rapist's family when her child was pregnant and could not get an abortion as demanded by the rapist. This is why the case was filed so late and this girl, who does not have the mental capacity to understand what has happened to her, is now forced to give birth.

We appeal to the authorities to ensure that this case is tried under a speedy trial and that the rapist is caught and given the highest possible punishment for such a heinous crime. His family is complicit in the crime and should also be held responsible and made to monetarily compensate the victim and her family. The government and human rights organisations must come forward to take care of this girl and her baby. She must not be victimised any further.