End India’s rape epidemic

Dear friends across India,

Last week, the President approved new rules that still allow husbands to rape wives and soldiers to rape civilians!We didn’t come out into the streets after the Delhi gang rape for insulting half-measures like this. Click below to send a message to President Mukherjee to let him know our movement is here to stay until we win:

Something incredible has been happening across India as men and women and people of all backgrounds have come together to demand an end to the mistreatment, harassment and rape of our mothers, sisters, daughters and friends. The government is moving in response, but they’re not doing enough and we can’t let up now.

Just last week, the President approved new rules that our government claimed were designed to address the problem of sexual violence, but outrageously they still allow husbands to rape their wives and soldiers to rape civilians! We didn’t come out into the streets and start an historic national movement for insulting half-measures like this. If we let the President know this isn’t good enough, he can use his influence with Sonia Gandhi and within Congress to force the government to abandon these temporary rules and enact real protections for women.

Let’s send President Mukherjee a deafening message that he can’t be President for only half the Republic. Click below and help get thousands of messages streaming into the Presidential palace calling for strong action to end the rape epidemic:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/justice_for_rape_victims_fax_new/?bkREFbb&v=22007

After our massive street protests that followed the heinous gang-rape of a 23-year-old student, the government set up a committee headed by Justice Verma to recommend ways to end the rape epidemic. A loud cheer went up around India when the Committee challenged male power across all of India’s male-dominated institutions and recommended sweeping reforms to transform the way women are viewed under the law.

But the government has thus far refused to implement them. The government even tried to hide the Verma report by removing it from the Home Ministry website. Instead, it’s caving into the military and others who make bogus arguments that reforms designed to protect women will lead to false claims. The real danger, though, is that if we don’t enact tough reforms more women will suffer in silence. Our community is already pressing the government to launch a mass public education campaign to change harmful male attitudes towards women, but we need to prevent bad laws as well.

The ordinance the government sent to the President last week is intended as a trial balloon — a temporary measure that pretends to implement some reforms while leaving other problems like marital rape and military rape unaddressed. They’re waiting to see if protests continue or die down. That’s why we need to keep up this fight and show the President we won’t back down. Click below and tell him that we expect him to act for citizens, not backward politicians:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/justice_for_rape_victims_fax_new/?bkREFbb&v=22007

Avaaz members have fought against government corruption and lethargy at all levels — from a small hospital in Punjab that killed a baby to the power circles of Delhi where laws are made. Together we are a force that can’t be ignored — let’s use it now to turn the tide against the prevailing culture of rape.

With hope,

Meredith, Alaphia, Luis, Alice, Ian, Alex, Mais, Wissam and the rest of the Avaaz team

MORE INFORMATION

The Government vs. the Committee (Wall Street Journal):
http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2013/02/05/the-government-vs-the-committee/

President signs ordinance to effect changes in laws against sexual crimes (India Today):
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/president-signs-ordinance-to-effect-changes-in-laws-against-sexual-crimes/1/248740.html

Curing India’s rape epidemic: The education option (Avaaz):
https://avaazmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/AVAAZ_How%20to%20cure%20India%27s%20Rape%20Epidemic.pdf 

Activists oppose making rape gender-neutral (Times of India):
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-20/india/32763268_1_gender-sexual-violence-crpc

Verma panel recommendations not rejected, asserts Chidambaram (The Hindu):
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-in-school/verma-panel-recommendations-not-rejected-asserts-chidambaram/article4380328.ece

What’s cooking? Justice Verma report vanishes from Home Ministry portal (Firstpost):
http://www.firstpost.com/india/whats-cooking-justice-verma-report-vanishes-from-home-ministry-portal-606148.html