Dear All,
Let me try and attempt answering the question as to how or whether this problem can be solved. There can be many reasons for rape but the basic reason is man's belief that by violating a girl or woman's modesty he becomes superior. There are other reasons as well like deprivation, lack of sex education by schools and parents, peer pressure, easy availability of targetted victims, breakup of joint family system, societal approval of 'honor rapes' and many other.
How can we stop them?
Moral and ethical education. Education alone would not be able to stop this menace as the western world has experienced.
Free society doesn't necessarily mean easy availability of 'sexual means' but should mean equal respect to all the sexes. This can come about only by 'true education' and genuine efforts to integrate the girl child as an equal.
Lesser population would mean less number of deprived and exploitable peoples.
Stricter implementation of exsisting laws.
Recognition of 'sex workers' right to earn their living thus creating healthier atmosphere. May be if demand and supply is recognised by law, as in some countries, the number of rapes would come down.
The race of getting everything by 'whatever' means must stop at a point. Today people are ready to sacrifice any and everything for that extra chance or opportunity. More applicable in the 'glamour world' where exploitation is open. This unfortunately is called 'refugee culture' that came alongwith our friends from across the border after partition. '"Oye, ki farak painda hai", is the root cause as well as their 'community anthem'.
In some societies 'rape' as an act is not considered a criminal act. In the so called feudal societies rape is used as an instrument to make people 'fall in line'. And this is very common in 'Punjabi Musalmaans' and other tribes of NWFP.
Reported rape numbers in Punjab or for that matter other feudal societies would be about 20 times less than actual rape cases. It is sad but true.
Maybe other members can throw more light on the subject.
Regards,
Lt Col JS Malik (Retd)