One of the ways in which a country can claim any semblance of development is through the way it treats, protects, and values the most vulnerable members of society.
Unfortunately, it is a fact that women in our society continue to remain vulnerable and, not only that, they remain unprotected by the country they call their home, with their dehumanization having become a reality.
News of rape and sexual abuse and harassment have become daily occurrences from which there is little respite, and conversations surrounding these issues have become repetitive and ineffective, leading to little recourse in terms of ensuring that women can feel safe not only in the streets of their societies, but also within the confines of their own homes.
This is reflected in the gruesome facts; according to Ain o Salish Kendra, between January and August of 2020, 889 women have been raped -- nearly four every day over the past eight months -- of whom 41 died or were killed. Nine of the women committed suicide after the incident.
This only accounts for the ones which were reported – who knows how many thousands more such incidents go unreported, their voices muffled by the oppressive forces of the rape culture which has become pervasive in our country?
We must do better. The truth of the matter is that, for many women, merely venturing outside has become an act of courage, one which requires the basic understanding that, at any point, they might very well become victims of sexual violence and abuse.
Our developmental journey throughout the last decade can no longer withstand this most gruesome truth. We need a complete overhaul of the mind-set which allows such cruel acts of dehumanization to take place and build a nation which protects women and their freedoms without question.
