Expedite amendment, endorsement of law on rape: Dr. Arzu

By TRN Online, Kathmandu, May 20: Nepali Congress (NC) Central Executive Committee member Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has appealed to the parliament to make an amendment to the law pertaining to rape.

Also the first lady, Dr. Deuba has pointed out the need for endorsing the amended legislation related to rape by adopting a fast track process.

She has also underscored the need for forming a committee to amend the law on rape in order for fast-forwarding the amendment process.

Taking to the social networking sites to make her views public on Friday, Dr. Deuba stated, "Rape survivors live with the scar and associated trauma throughout their lives. They feel as if the time of their life stopped with the terrible moment."

She has argued for ensuring that there is no time limit for reporting the rape case for justice. "It takes a lot of time to muster up the courage to speak about it publicly and to reach the point of demanding justice".

Other nations have changed laws to allow retribution and justice to survivors of child sexual abuse even after decades. Nepal should follow suit, she stated.

Questioning the time limit for registering a complaint about rape within a year of the crime, Dr. Deuba stated, "Crimes are crimes. If a lawsuit can be lodged even after decades in some crimes, why is it that a rapist should be sued within a year?"

It is high time that Nepal acted promptly to ensure the security of women by changing the law on rape and removing the duration to lodge a rape case.

Referring to a former participant in a beauty pageant who recently spoke publicly about having been sexually abused then, Dr. Deuba has stated, "I appreciate her courage highly."

With the reference to the rape case, Dr. Deuba urged the government, especially the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens and the National Women Commission, to form a committee for expediting the process to amend the law on rape in order for saving women from rape and violence against women (VAW).

The NC leader has also urged the parliament to take initiative for endorsing the amended law on rape through a fast-track process.