“I wanted to be a nurse, I had even joined a training school for nurse. I had dreams and hope to reach at the top, but my dreams were shattered and my hopes crumbled, the night I was gang raped. I was mentally dead while physically I continued to live, I do not know whether I will come out of this nightmare, I don’t think I can as I have already lost the will and support of my family. (21 year old victim of rape) ‘Rape’, an ugly four letter word, defines doom and a life condemned to nothing but trauma and emptiness. It shakes the very foundation of the person, with their modesty outraged, womanhood wrecked and their innocence lost. Empowerment for women, women’s rights and gender sensitisation are nothing but mere words for a lot of political parties that have trivialised the whole gender issues under the façade of women’s right. Statistics that can blow your mind

76.3% rape victims were below 16 years of age and 40.3% of the percentage of victims were below the age of 12. The highest percentage that is 96.7% victims were from younger age groups. The most surprising and mind blowing statistics is the fact that out of 449 accused arrested, 308 had committed single rape, 69 had committed double rape, and 64 were arrested as accused in gang rape. (Delhi Commission for Women) “Father rapes daughter, daughter 3 months pregnant”

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“As soon as dawn breaks, the nightmare begins for 10-year old Geeta*. As soon as her mother leaves for work, her unemployed father starts sexually abusing her. For Geeta the 6 hours spent in school are a blessing in disguise, and when she comes back home Geeta’s father would send the younger siblings out to play and start raping her.” (Case study from Pioneer)

Yes, it is the most sensational headline or a piece we will ever read and probably also feel the pang of sadness. But that is all, for most us the above case is nothing except a good and an emotional piece and the next morning we all forget. Incestuous rape is probably the most common form of rape and is increasing.
As the statistics reveal that out of 32 cases of rape committed by close relatives 9 of them were committed by fathers, 5 of them was step fathers and 10 were uncles. It was also observed that the person whom they completely trusted sexually abused 29% of the children. These people were identified as relatives, father, grandfather or a family friend. Despite the widespread preponderance of child sexual abuse, sympathy, and sensitivity are far from being positive.