Shame the rape and the rapist, not the victim

The rape and death of an O'level student by an 18 year-old has been yet another shocking example of how entrenched rape culture has become in our society. The head of the forensic department at Dhaka Medical College has confirmed that the student was raped and died of haemorrhagic shock and excessive bleeding due to severe injuries to the private parts. These details of the brutality with which the victim was assaulted is heart wrenching and leaves us outraged and shocked. But what is also disturbing is the misogynistic comments made in social media after this horrendous crime became known.  

Instead of showing empathy for the victim and outrage that such a crime has occurred, instead of outright condemnation of the rapist we see distasteful, even abusive comments by people. Aspersions on the victim's character and even on her parents expressed in the most crude and unsavoury terms point out to the tendency of victim blaming that actually encourages sexual violence and is very much part of the rape culture. According to Ain o Salish Kendra, at least 1,627 women were raped and gang-raped across the country in 2020. Of them, 53 were killed after rape and 14 died by suicide.

As human rights activists have pointed out, it is the crime that must be condemned and shamed, not the victim. Whether the rapist was the victim's boyfriend, what she wore and her sexual history or lifestyle in no way justifies rape which must be considered a heinous crime that must be stopped. Sex without consent is rape. In the current case, the grievousness of her injury and that she died after excessive bleeding is enough proof that this was a violent rape. We are chillingly reminded of the 14 year-old child bride who died of excessive genital bleeding after her husband continued to force her to have sex despite her injuries and pleas. Rape has to be considered a crime that demands punishment of the rapist regardless of the relationship between the rapist and the victim.

We have just started the new year and already cases of rapes are piling up—and this excludes the ones that will never be reported. News reports come out only when the victim dies or when a case has been filed. This is not just because of the legal system but also society's perceptions—both tilt in favour of the rapist and against the victim or survivor. Does that make sense at a time when women's participation in development is being celebrated and encouraged? The government, the courts, educational institutions and society must all work together to protect our girls and teach our boys the meaning of consent and respect for women and girls. The culture of victim blaming must be eradicated.