Hyderabad: There has been an 800 per cent rise in the number of cases of sexual assault and crimes against women (that have been reported) over the last three decades.
Experts, however, believe that these are only 20 per cent of the actual number of cases. Between 2010-2012, there was an increase by 30 per cent in the number of cases reported for assault on children as well. Moreover, a shift in pattern in rapes and sexual offenses from single to gang-rapes have emerged, indicate experts.
It takes three years — on the lower side — for an offender to be convicted and this scenario has remained the same over the years despite various amendments and reforms in the laws.
Interestingly the criminals, despite being aware of the consequences, admit that they could never believe that there would be complaints filed.
“The entire crime scenario is provoked by lack of fear of the criminal justice system. People believe that they can continue to drag it out. In fact, criminals often admit during interrogation that they could never imagine that a victim would complain,” said Cyberabad commissioner of police, C.V. Anand. He, however, added that there was no evidence to suggest that the incidence of the crime had increased, but the number of cases was more due to more women coming forward to report abuse.
Support groups and psychologists, meanwhile, believe that such crimes have got nothing to do with emotions or even lust, but are basically due to a sense of entitlement that the offenders have. In fact, despite reading about horrifying crimes and their consequences, even women believe that it will not happen to them and continue to remain unaware of their surroundings.
It is estimated that 80 per cent of women who are sexually assaulted do not report it due to humiliation or re-victimisation in the legal system. Even children are increasingly falling prey to sexual assaults and easy availability of pornography is to be blamed. “Pornography, portrayal of women as sexual objects in item numbers and cinema have a big influence,” says Sarah Mathews from Women’s Support Alliance, Sankalp.
Next: Mind is the strongest weapon
Mind is the strongest weapon
Hyderabad: The mind is our strongest weapon, say psychologists. It takes mental alertness and a high level of confidence to react to a sudden threat.
Psychologists point out that on sudden realisation of a physical threat, women often fail to react due to fear psychosis. Gripped by fear, many a times, it is difficult to react normally and experts believe a little preparation would help a great deal.
Each psychologist in the city gets at least 8-10 cases of women who are in the grip of fear of sexual assault and who report psychological issues over past incidents.
As per psychologists, women are so used to being eve-teased and being commented on that they immediately tend to escape the situation by avoiding eye-contact, looking at their phones or elsewhere.
This behaviour is one of the biggest threat invitations and easily identifies them as potential victims as their alertness goes down while diverting attention from the threat. Intuition and gut-feeling should also be tapped into, say experts as a man who has the potential to abuse can be pin-pointed when he stares for too long, makes passes, tries to molest etc..
