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India grapples with rape epidemic
Canada has joined UK and France to warn its women to exercise extreme caution due to an increasing number of sex attacks on foreigners in India.
Recent high-profile attacks on foreigners in India have even led the Indian government to declare that rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in the country.
Governments to have updated travel advice for women visiting India include the UK, Canada and France, said media reports in India.
The UK's Foreign Office website says: "Serious sexual attacks involving Polish, German and Danish women travellers have been reported so far in 2014. Women travellers should exercise caution when travelling in India even if they are travelling in a group."
Advice from the Foreign Office was updated last week following the gang-rape of a Danish woman in Delhi.
Delhi has been singled out as the city where great caution is required, particularly in the cheap hotel district near Delhi Railway Station.
The US was quick to alter travel advice last year when authorities warned about rape and other crimes.
Canada’s travel advisory states; “ Foreign women are often a target for unwanted attention. Reports of assault, rape and sexual aggression against foreign women have increased. Women should avoid travelling alone, particularly at night, on public transportation, taxis and auto-rickshaws, as well as in less populous and unlit areas, including city streets, village lanes and beaches. Dress conservatively and respect local customs. Should you feel threatened, dial 100 (112 from cellular telephones) to reach police.”
The French government singled out Delhi.
“The greatest caution is recommended, particularly in Paharganj, a popular area close to Connaught Place and New Delhi Railway Station, very popular with tourists for its cheap hotels,” it said.
Canada, France and the UK are among the biggest tourist markets for India. The US, the top market for India, updated its travel advice last March to read: "Indian authorities report rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in India. Keep your hotel room number confidential and make sure hotel room doors have chains, deadlocks, and spy-holes."
Travel companies fear India is increasingly gaining a reputation for being unsafe for women, with some telling The Hindu newspaper there had already been a drop in the number of travellers from Germany.
Madhavan Menon, from Thomas Cook India, told an Indian newspaper paper: “With more and more such cases happening in India, international tourists, especially European tourists, are viewing this negatively. If this continues, it is bound to impact inbound tourism.”
The US State Department also explains on its website that for evidence of an assault to be submitted in a court case, Indian authorities require that the medical exam be completed at a government hospital.
"Therefore, if a victim goes to a private hospital for treatment, the hospital will more than likely refer them to a government hospital for this aspect of the medical process."
Meanwhile, in the wake of a Danish woman's gang rape in the capital, Greenpeace India has urged Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to fulfill his poll promise of providing safety to women.
The Aam Aadmi Party had promised "lighting and security provision on roads, parks, buses, and all public spaces" to prevent crimes against women, said Greenpeace.
"We had hoped that the new government would work promptly to bring in a sense of security for women and citizens. However the government has been far from assuring on that front," said Pujarini Sen, a campaigner for Greenpeace India.
"The dearth of proper street lighting will mean that public spaces like parks and streets will continue to remain dark and unsafe for women and citizens. The government must immediately announce a roadmap to a safe Delhi," Sen said.
A 51-year-old Danish woman was robbed and raped at knife-point by eight vagabonds near New Delhi Railway Station Tuesday. Six people have been arrested so far.
Citing Delhi Police data, the NGO said over 1,500 dark spots still exist in the city.
"Rape cases have gone up from 680 in 2012, to 1,559 in 2013 in Delhi while cases of molestation too have risen from 653 to 3,347," it said.
Greenpeace suggested using solar energy to improve street lighting so that the city does not go dark even during a power cut.
"The city has money, resources and expertise. It just needs political will and we demand that the Delhi government should show that political will," added Sen.
In another development, Indian officials have unveiled a gun they say women can use to protect themselves.
The .32-caliber revolver is called Nirbheek, for the victim of a December 2012 gang rape and murder aboard a bus in New Delhi. Indian law forbids the identification of rape victims, and the Indian media called her "Nirbhaya," which means fearless.
"After the gang-rape incident, our researchers were working on a revolver which is very light and can be carried by women in their purses or small handbags," Abdul Hamid, the general manager of the Indian Ordnance Factory in Kanpur, told the semi-official Press Trust of India news agency.
Hamid said there have already been 20 orders for the lightweight weapon that's made of titanium alloy. He said the gun, which will be delivered in a special ornamental box, also will be sold to men. Here's how The Times of India reported on it:
"Described by arms experts as an Indian hybrid of a Webley & Scott and Smith & Wesson, for its simple mechanism and light frame, it is the smallest revolver made in India — an ideal to fit a purse or a small hand bag."
Civilian ownership of firearms in India is relatively uncommon, mainly because of the cost of weapons as well as onerous licensing requirements. Indeed, the Nirbheek is priced at nearly $2,000, in a country where the per capita income is about $1,500 (purchasing power parity is $3,608).
Preventing sexual assault while travelling in India
There’s potential for sexual assault anywhere in the world. Taking precautions is your best defence against becoming a victim states a Canadian travel advisory. Here are some tips.
Never leave food or drinks unattended or in the care of strangers. Be wary of accepting snacks, beverages, gum, or cigarettes from new acquaintances. There’s always a risk of spiking, and drug-assisted rape is common worldwide. So-called “date-rape drugs” – usually prescription-strength sleeping aids – are tasteless and colourless and can leave you unconscious and defenceless. Alcohol alone is the drug most frequently used in sexual assault.
If you begin to feel strange, sick, or intoxicated for no obvious reason, ask a friend or someone you trust to take you to a safe place. If you’re alone, call the local police, a hospital, or the nearest Canadian government office abroad.
Know the risks of ending up alone with strange men. Think twice before leaving a club or party with someone you’ve just met or accepting an invitation to go out with a man alone, especially in societies where dating without a chaperone present is considered taboo.
Be wary of anyone who invades your personal space, ignores your protests, or tries to make you feel ashamed if you resist his advances.
If you feel threatened, don’t hesitate to draw attention to yourself by shouting and making a fuss.
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