Post date: Mar 21, 2013 3:21:53 PM
India approves a tougher new law to punish sex crimes, including death for repeat rape offenders, after the fatal gang rape of a student in December sparked unprecedented protests over the treatment of women in the country.
NEW DELHI, INDIA (MARCH 21, 2013) (RAJYA SABHA TV) - India approved on Thursday (March 21) a tougher new law to punish sex crimes, including death for repeat rape offenders, after the fatal gang rape of a student in December sparked unprecedented protests over the treatment of women in the country.
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013 or "anti-rape law" puts in place a slew of new provisions and tougher punishments, which include criminalising voyeurism and stalking and making acid attacks and human trafficking specific offences.The legislation is seen as a crucial step towards curbing rising cases of violence against women in the largely patriarchal country, but activists said it was weak and warned that much would depend on enforcement.
After the lower house of parliament (Lok Sabha) passed the bill, India's InteriorMinister Sushilkumar Shinde moved the bill in the upper house (Rajya Sabha) and assured the lawmakers that he would consider their suggestions.
The law maintains life imprisonment for rape as the maximum sentence, yet sets down the death penalty for repeat offenders and those whose victims are left in a "vegetative state".
It also expands the meaning of rape to include penetration of the mouth, anus, urethra or vagina with the penis or any other object without consent.
Gang rape has been recognised as an offence, while sexual harassment has been redefined to include unwelcome advances with sexual overtures and showing pornography without consent.
The law also punishes police and hospital authorities with imprisonment of up to two years if they fail to register a complaint or treat a victim.
"I am delighted that both houses of parliament have given their approval to the historic Criminal Law Amendment Bill, which will go a long way to secure the dignity and protection of our women. This was the response of a sensitive and responsive government to the national outrage," said India's Law MinisterAshwani Kumar.
India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the law was not enough and sought more measures to tackle crimes against women.
"But mere passing of the bill will not suffice, what is required is political will and administrative skill. You have to sensitise the police across the country, you have to make mandatory registration of FIRs and also disposal of the cases in a specific time period," said BJP senior leader Venkaiah Naidu.
Rape is just one of many violations women suffer in India, ranging from female foeticide and dowry murders to acid attacks, trafficking and so-called honour killings.
But the savagery of the December 16 assault, where a 23-year-old student was gang-raped for an hour and tortured with an iron rod damaging her internal organs, shook the conscience of many Indians and stirred national debate about gender abuses.
Thousands took to the streets across India for days, forcing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government to constitute a panel to recommend ways to strengthen laws to protect women. The new law incorporates some of the panel's suggestions.
Marital rape, for instance, remains legitimate, and the age of consent has been set at 18 years instead of 16, and politicians charged with rape can still run in elections -despite the government-panel recommending otherwise.