Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman criticized the claim about a woman’s attire is the reason behind rape. Sitharaman, the first woman Defence Minister of India was addressing an event organized by FICCI titled –“Stories that Matter”. She called for a change of mindset in matters regarding the safety and dignity of women.
Often times, people blame the victim and engage in moral policing whenever an incident of rape takes place. Sitharaman pointed out that the elderly and toddlers also get raped, and hence clothing has nothing to with rapes.
What efforts can be made by external agencies, when you have known people absolutely violating the women? Some people say about the way women dress. Then why does rape happen of elderly people? Why does rape happen of toddlers?: Nirmala Sitharaman, Defence Minister pic.twitter.com/2bruCYuJVd
— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2018
The minister also spoke about a much needed proactive role of law agencies in providing safety to women and preventing such instances from happening.
As indicated by earlier reports most of the times the rapist is a known face to the victim. The minister talked about how law agencies must take cognizance of such facts and incorporate them in their investigations accordingly.
“Out of every 10 such incidents, seven are committed by people who know the victim– relative, friends, neighbour. Law enforcement agencies need to be far more proactive, I concede all that,” she stated.
