DIGITAL RAPE

 Women has been suffering gender disparity since ages . And now Digital Rape -the term was coined in 2013 in order to provide justices to victims of the heinous crimes which was earlier falling under the ambit of molestation . Aftermath of the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape incident (which jolted the entire nation from its core ) , this was codified as sexual offence.

Digital Rape- Any sexual offence performed digitally, such as altering someone's online identity or abusing any digital platform, is not considered to be "digital rape." However, it refers to the act of putting one's fingers or toes within another person's private areas without that person's consent. The conduct has been referred to as "digital rape" because the word "digit" in the English language dictionary means finger, thumb, and toe. 

Background:- why it was brought under IPC 375(defines rape as "sexual intercourse with a woman against her will, without her consent, by coercion, misrepresentation or fraud or at a time when she has been intoxicated or duped, or is of unsound mental health and in any case if she is under 18 years of age.") and 376 (punishment for sexual offences)..certain known cases happened in past were culprit those who committed such heinous crimes wasn’t persecuted under sexual offences .and it was treated as molestation  due not incorporation of it under sexual offences. Cases that compelled the court and parliament to come up with law or amendment to bring justices to victims..such as the incident took place in Delhi where an auto driver sexual assaulted a 60 year old woman inside his vehicle what he did? An iron rod was sued to penetrate her and the culprit was not convicted under ipc 375 and 376 ,similarly in 2012 a 2 year old Mumbai girl was rushed to the hospital bleeding ,and although there was no proof of rape or sexual assault (as semen was absence (If the medical examination was conducted immediately after the rape, there would be presence of semen, otherwise there will not be.” Forensic experts, however, say that though semen is conclusive evidence of rape, the absence of semen is not conclusive to rule out rape.)) but in this physicians found that her vagina was burst. Can you believe what kind of demon work was done by that goon to the just two year old girl(nevertheless it was her father who did that) . However, he was arrested but not tried and punished under above mentioned section.. these opened the various exiting loopholes in the definition of rape ,sexual offences and law governing them. As previously, court found it difficult to treat these cases under the rape of laws of India. Knowing the consequences encountered by women/girls due to this loopholes which constantly violated women or child dignity. Honourable Supreme Court had to make some changes to its definition of rape.

Therefore ,in 2013  definition was rape extended that is , according to new definition, rape is considered an act of forcefully penetrating a woman’s vagina, mouth,anus or urethra by a penis, any foreign object or any other part of the body. This definition made it crystal clear by incorporating the missing part which absence earlier resulted the escape of culprit from the punishment even though the gravity of crimes was same as rape. 

Issues with digital Rape:- 1. Committed by near and dear one ( hardly being reported)

2. Social embarrassment and humiliation halt the victims not to report the same . Therefore, not reported till years.

3. Lack of proper investigation process and forensic.

4. Destroy the mental stability of the victims.etc 

Undoubtedly, the understanding that we need is that ,we need to expand the sensibilities and sensitivity towards gender as a part of humanity. We need to change the animals characteristics and animosity towards others gender. Furthermore, we need inculcate the knowledge of digital rape in and around the family & beyond in order to create awareness among them . It will further enhance the ability of reporting cases which go unheard due to fear and humiliation. 

Way forward:- think and text comment below…