‘People don’t want to sit next to rape victims’
LUCKNOW : Legal justice isn’t all that a victim of sexual violence needs. Social justice is equally important.
A 22- year-old rape survivor from Kanpur, who was sexually abused by a policeman (her father’s friend) for two years, emphasised that the victims needed social acceptance.
Addressing a packed hall during the HT Woman Award function here on Sunday, she said, “When an incident happens, the victim has to fight two battles, one with the system to get her case registered and get justice and the other with the society for her respect and acceptability.”
“People do not want to talk to rape victims. They do not want to sit next to them. Many begin to question her upbringing and blame her character. This only adds to the trauma of the victim,” she said.
This young woman became the target of a policeman who was a regular visitor to her house. He would visit her house during the day when her parents were in office and sexually assault her.
He made a video of the woman and blackmailed her.“When things became intolerable, I consumed poison. That’s how my parents came to know what I was going through for two years. They instantly supported me and said that I should not worry because I never did anything wrong,” recalled the young woman, bringing the audience to tears. The woman had one strong message for all children and their parents.
“Parents often blame their children and do not pay heed to their complaints of sexual abuse. I request them to keep a close watch on the behavioural changes in their children. Please try to find the reason for your child’s silence and save him/her from such abuse,” she urged the audience.
She also told girls, “Do not be scared. Talk about everything that happens to you. Unless you decide to fight for yourself, no one will give you justice.”
While the world makes victims of sexual violence hide their face, this girl has decided to bring her face on the big screen.
“I have made a documentary on my story and am planning to make a film on myself,” she said.