District Police Office (DPO) has informed that a 7-year-old girl has been raped by one 35 year old man. According to present law, if a person rapes a girl child of less than 10 years the sentence is 10 to 15 years of custody, 14 to 16 years is 8 to 12 years custody, 16 to 20 years is 5 to 8 years of custody and the provision of punishment for raping a woman above 20 years age is 5 to 7 years custody. Although this is not explicit these provisions accepts rape and make rape against women above 20 more acceptable and less punishable. This is totally against human right norms and principles. Similarly, the 35 days limitation for reporting cases of rape is infringing on women's right to get justice. This situation makes it difficult for women to seek justice. Similarly, the lengthy and complicated court proceedings add further complication to the process. This situation has fostered culture of impunity and boosted the moral of perpetrator to complacently continue the crime. The condition is unbearable and demands immediate action from every concerned citizen and institutions of the country to come forward and act together to end and transform the situation of violence for creating a sustainable to peace in the country.
