Since ancient times, women have been considered commodities. Women were paraded for sale in a market and traded off even though women contributed a lot for the development of their States. On the contrary, women are particularly considered vulnerable in conflicts. During the time of conflict, women are placed in the vulnerable category of victims. Girls and women are more exposed to sexual violence. They are raped by the armed forces. Rape is an act of sexual activity carried out forcibly with an individual against his or her will. Rape is an unlawful act and is treated as a crime in the whole world. The ratio of female rape cases is high as compared to males.
Every day, thousands of rape cases are reported in the world. And most of them are from India. India claims that it is the world’s biggest democracy but when it comes to women’s protection or security, India is totally a failure as a state. India has given the status of goddess to women and even worships them. But the reality is totally opposite.
On one hand, they worship women as goddesses; on the other they abuse them and consider them a commodity or an object. The women’s history in India is not so good. They always faced a severe issue like no remarriage for widows, the sati system, where a widow was burnt alive with her spouse’s corpse and many more. Some of them are not practised now, but the present issues which the women in India are facing, such as gender discrimination, harassment, sexual abuse or rape are more severe, and those issues are directly linked with the women’s security. Rape becomes the fourth most common crime against women in India.
The global community must confront these atrocities and work towards ending the systemic violence against women. The plight of Kashmiri women, like that of countless others worldwide, demands urgent action. It is imperative to implement stringent measures and international doctrines that protect women in conflict zones, ensuring they can live without the constant threat of physical assault. Only through sustained and collective efforts can we hope to eradicate this tyranny and secure a future where all women can live freely and safely
According to some international human rights forum annual reports, India has become the world’s worst state for women due to sexual violence. In every 15 minutes, one rape case of women is reported in India.
According to the Thomas Reuters Survey, India ranked first in the world with the most rape cases. One of the most highlighted rape cases of India occurred in 2012 in Delhi, in which the 23-year=old Nirbhaya. a physiotherapy intern. was tortured, gang raped and beaten in a private bus, after which she died. There are a million of rape cases like Nirbhaya reported in India annually.
In 2016, an Indian army lady officer was sexually harassed by her senior officer. This is the situation of India that even their forces’ lady officers are not safe, then how are the Kashmiri innocent women safe in the hands of Indian armed forces? Although rape is not committed in India only but the ratio of rape in India is very high as compared to the rest of the world. In 1948, in Indian-occupied Kashmir, the biggest victim of this barbaric siege were the Kashmiri women. After the occupation by the India armed forces of Kashmir, the rape of Kashmiri girls and women by Indian armed forces are become more frequent or increased. The rapes occur during the raids and in search operations. According to some sources, every year, 600-700 rape cases are cpmmitted by Indian armed forces in Indian occupied Kashmir. These rapes were committed on gunpoint in front of the families, and most of the cases are not reported in media or in the police station.
Due to the imposition of the discriminatory law in Indian-Occupied Kashmir, Indian armed forces have the impunity to do whatever they want to do against the innocent Kashmiris. Indian armed forces used rape as a weapon of war as well as pleasure. One of the worst “Mass Rape” case was seen in February, 1991, during the so-called search operation in the two villages of Indian-Occupied Kashmir, named Kunan- Poshpora, around 50 girls and women were raped by the Indian armed forces between the ages of nine to 80 years old in front of their families. This was the worst assault in women’s history.
The world has changed now, but the women’s situation in Indian-Occupied Kashmir is the same: still she is considered a commodity, and rape is used as a weapon of war or pleasure. Here, the questions arise when this tyranny ends? Who will come and rescue them? Or do we need any kind of rape doctrine to impose on war prone areas for the safety of women.
The global community must confront these atrocities and work towards ending the systemic violence against women. The plight of Kashmiri women, like that of countless others worldwide, demands urgent action. It is imperative to implement stringent measures and international doctrines that protect women in conflict zones, ensuring they can live without the constant threat of physical assault. Only through sustained and collective efforts can we hope to eradicate this tyranny and secure a future where all women can live freely and safely.
