Contending with upsurge of rape cases – Punch Newspapers

16.8.17

Contending with upsurge of rape cases – Punch Newspapers: Perhaps, more worrisome is the fact that a large number of suspected rapists roam freely on the streets after committing the heinous act. Equally bothersome is that the act has now assumed a new dimension whereby victims are sometimes gang-raped in broad daylight with crowds hanging around as mute spectators of a salacious drama while victims are groped, stripped and assaulted. Another sad aspect is that the victim is occasionally blamed while little is done concerning our apparently weak laws.

The rape epidemic in our society sadly reflects the extent to which women’s rights are threatened. This calls to question not only our sense of justice but our civilisation. The big question, of course, is why do men rape? Most experts believe the primary cause of rape is an aggressive desire to dominate the victim rather than an attempt to achieve sexual fulfilment. They consider rape an act of violence rather than principally a sexual encounter. This is the opinion of experts. But one is of the opinion that besides the desire to dominate, rape can also be situated in the state of minds of perpetrators.