Catholic doctor: Delhi rape an attack on life itself
Mumbai (AsiaNews) - Not only a terrible act of violence,
but "an attack on life itself", Dr. Pascoal Carvalho, Catholic physician
and member of the Pontifical Academy for Life comments to AsiaNews on the
gang rape in New Delhi suffered by a young woman of 23. Yesterday
the victim was admitted to the Mount Elizabeth Hospital, a specialized facility
in Singapore, where doctors hope to stabilize and save her. Despite
the five operations at Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi, her condition is still
critical: the young woman suffered a serious head injury, infections of the
lungs and abdomen, as well as cardiac arrest.
In
India the attack has sparked a strong reaction of civil society, in addition to
repeated protests - one of which resulted in the death of a policeman - by feminist
associations, politicians and students are asking the government for
"stringent action" to punish the
culprits. This
morning, Sonia Gandhi, president of the Congress party, broke her silence by
expressing solidarity with the young woman, and stressing that "no time will
be lost in bringing the perpetrators of this barbaric an act to justice." The
constant government reassurance is not sufficient for the population, which is
calling for extreme measures: the death penalty, a national registry of rapists,
chemical castration.
According to Dr. Carvalho,
what happened to the girl - and the violent reactions that have followed - reveal
a "distorted thinking" typical of Indian society, according to which
"the male identity is asserted through aggression and possession of women ". Only
by pursuing "justice and gender equality" and "economic
independence" will the nation be able "to ensure true dignity,
autonomy and rights for girls, boys and women." Unfortunately,
the doctor adds, "the Indian patriarchal mentality is continuously proposed
not only at home but also in institutions, in the media and educational system."
Among
the many crimes against women, sexual violence is the most widespread in the
country, and New Delhi is the city with the highest
rate. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, says Dr. Carvalho,
"in 2010 the capital recorded 414 cases of rape. Studies also reveal that for every rape that is reported, 50 go
unreported. In 2012 Delhi has witnessed 635 rapes so compared to 564 during
same period last year. In Delhi, 754 persons are arrested
in rape cases in 2012, but the number of convicted is just 1". "The magnitude
of the problem - concludes the doctor - is thus far larger than figures reveal
and stringent laws and fast track courts will be deterrents, but there has to
be an attitudinal change which will result in gender justice and gender empowerment".
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