Some issues are left unseen and untouched and from there arise a very critical issue which is very
unpopular in India and many other countries. Some may consider it as useless topic where this is
actually a mum topic. According to national intimate partner and sexual violence survey (NISVS)
2010, 5356000 (53%) of men are being victims of sexual harassment than compare to 4741000 (47%)
of women all over the world. Further if we talk about India, The Indian government surveyed
children who reported sexual abuse which include 57.3% of boys and 42.7% of girls not only this,
Delhi- based centre for civil society found 18% of coerced reports among which 16% claimed to
female perpetrator and 2% to male perpetrator. Considering above figures and data the questions
has been raised to our country that “can a man be sexually assaulted?” “Why matters like this
remain under the fame?” “What’s the way forward?” answer to these burning question is the of the
hour.
People talk about equality of women, rights of women and we even do every commendable effort to
raise and empower this gender, but when we are into this process are we really forgetting the next
gender i. e male are we really forgetting to protect their rights? Yes, we are doing so, we are really
forgetting male gender in terms of sexual assault, harassment and other related crime to the male
gender. The very section 375 of IPC deals with rape and legal provision against it mention no case of
sexual assault against men. Not only this, the same have mentioned that when a woman is raped
perpetrator will always be a man. Further IPC section 354A, 354B, 354C, 354D which contain all
activities relating to sexual violence have no remedy against male. There is only IPC section 377
which talk about sexual wrong against male which also doesn’t contain non-penile abuse victim
therefore non-penile have no remedy no justice for their suffering. From above it is understood even
Indian legislation is not concern with this matter so what can we expect from our society. This is so
unfortunate that people of not only India but all over the world are not discussing this problem. This
problem had already resulted in suicides and depression in teens and adult males. Here are two
recent cases: -
Ghaziabad, last year a male student of Delhi University was raped by his girlfriend’s father then her
father rubbed chillies and salt to his wound and left him to suffer. Another case is when 16 years old
boy claimed he was sexually assaulted by his best friend’s mother from past three months till now
he doesn’t feel safe against unknown people.
This is very important to note that rape is gender-neutral crime, it can take place with anyone
therefore its remedy and justice should also be available to everyone. we the people of India tend to
think that we are living in a male dominating society and here all sufferings, crimes assault is to be
suffered by females only, but this is totally wrong and such a mind sent will not to work in today’s
era, we need to develop our mind set and we should treat every gender equally as this is the only
way towards development of our country and world.
“There is all the difference in the world between treating people equally and attempting to make
them equally” – Friedrich Hayek
Sources: - http://www.indianyouth.net
www.youthkiawaaz.com
