End Victim-blaming Culture

On February 17, 2025, in Dhanusha, 17-year-old Rinku Sada was found hanging in her room. What first appeared to be a tragic case of suicide later revealed an episode of violence that silenced a voice longing to be heard. Investigations have disclosed that three days before her death, Rinku was gang-raped by three men near her home. When the case came to light, the locals chose to reduce Rinku’s suffering to a mere transaction. Her dignity was sold for Rs 1,40,000 in fine — and her family was coerced into handing over most of the amount to those in power. They were also forbidden from reporting the crime to the police. 

A young girl, already devastated by a terrible crime, was made to feel that her pain was a burden that should be shushed. In Nepal, where gender-based violence is often normalised and women are forced to remain silent out of fear of shame, Rinku’s story is sadly one of many. According to WOREC Nepal (2022), 66 per cent of women who have experienced physical or sexual abuse haven't asked for assistance or spoken with anybody about how to fend off or stop the violence they are facing. Trauma resulting from unaddressed violence and social isolation can lead to serious psychopathologies like depression, anxiety and PTSD.

This culture of silence is rooted in a deeply ingrained patriarchy. A substantial number of women are often taught from childhood that the perceived notion of their family's honour should not be traded for justice. It takes a lot of struggle and courage beforehand to speak out, but once they do, they are questioned, doubted, and even blamed.  “Are you sure you’re not overreacting?” “What were you wearing?” “Are you sure it’s not just a perception issue?” These are merely some portions of a huge questionnaire they are obligated to answer. Perpetrators are not held accountable, and while they walk free without consequences, survivors are forced to prove their pain.

This normalisation of victim-blaming perpetuates rape culture. Be it the casual objectification and sexualisation of women or the normalisation of "harmless" jokes on rape, society continuously normalises the concept of violence. Attitudes like these contribute to the desensitisation of abuse, eventually resulting in the most severe acts of violence.

In Nepal, the statute of limitations allows adults to report offenses within two years, while minors have up to three years after reaching adulthood to report offenses.  This time frame represents significant positive progress compared to the past, but it's equally necessary to understand that trauma does not adhere to deadlines, and it may take survivors many years to process their experiences before they feel ready to move forward legally. As the nation continues to advance in its efforts to address sexual violence, one must ask: does the current legal framework truly serve as a path for survivors to find strength and closure, or does it pose a challenge in their fight for justice?

Rinku’s case has been recognised nationwide, and appropriate action is being taken legally- but how many more Rinkus have to suffer before their stories stop being reduced to just statistics and trends? While it’s easy to blame institutions, the reality is that change cannot come from policies alone. It is important to recognize that violence against women is not just a societal matter; it is a crime, and crimes are meant to be handled by the law, not by community or normative judgments. Too often, cases like Rinku’s are unacknowledged or settled behind closed doors, treating justice as a bargain rather than a right.