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| Indian parliament passes stricter law on sexual violence | Indian parliament passes stricter law on sexual violence |
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| India's parliament has passed a sweeping new law to protect women against sexual violence, in response to the fatal gang rape of a young woman on a bus in Delhi in December. | India's parliament has passed a sweeping new law to protect women against sexual violence, in response to the fatal gang rape of a young woman on a bus in Delhi in December. |
| The legislation, which requires the president's signature before it becomes official, makes crimes of stalking, voyeurism and sexual harassment. It provides for the death penalty for repeat offenders or for rape attacks that lead to the victim's death. | The legislation, which requires the president's signature before it becomes official, makes crimes of stalking, voyeurism and sexual harassment. It provides for the death penalty for repeat offenders or for rape attacks that lead to the victim's death. |
| The law also makes it a crime for police officers to refuse to open cases when they receive complaints of sexual attacks. | The law also makes it a crime for police officers to refuse to open cases when they receive complaints of sexual attacks. |
| Activists hailed the law as a milestone in India's women's rights movement, but raised concerns over some of its provisions as well as the country's poor record of law enforcement. | Activists hailed the law as a milestone in India's women's rights movement, but raised concerns over some of its provisions as well as the country's poor record of law enforcement. |
| "It's a significant moment. We have taken many steps forward," said Vrinda Grover, a senior lawyer and women's rights activist. "Much, much more needs to be done." | "It's a significant moment. We have taken many steps forward," said Vrinda Grover, a senior lawyer and women's rights activist. "Much, much more needs to be done." |
| The bill was passed by the upper house of India's parliament on Thursday, two days after the lower house approved it. The law was hurried through parliament after the gang rape in December sparked nationwide protests demanding the government do more to safeguard women. | The bill was passed by the upper house of India's parliament on Thursday, two days after the lower house approved it. The law was hurried through parliament after the gang rape in December sparked nationwide protests demanding the government do more to safeguard women. |
| The government set up a panel headed by a retired judge, which recommended sweeping changes to India's laws governing crimes against women. The cabinet quickly passed an ordinance incorporating some of those suggestions, but parliament had to pass a law by next month or the ordinance would have expired. Many MPs complained the law was being rushed through without the proper debate or opportunity for amendment. | The government set up a panel headed by a retired judge, which recommended sweeping changes to India's laws governing crimes against women. The cabinet quickly passed an ordinance incorporating some of those suggestions, but parliament had to pass a law by next month or the ordinance would have expired. Many MPs complained the law was being rushed through without the proper debate or opportunity for amendment. |
| The home affairs minister, Sushilkumar Shinde, said the law was the most stringent effort to curb sexual violence ever in India. | The home affairs minister, Sushilkumar Shinde, said the law was the most stringent effort to curb sexual violence ever in India. |
| But Ranjana Kumari, a women's activist and director of the Centre for Social Research thinktank, said significant problems remained, especially the government's refusal to criminalise marital rape. | But Ranjana Kumari, a women's activist and director of the Centre for Social Research thinktank, said significant problems remained, especially the government's refusal to criminalise marital rape. |
| "If bodily integrity is the issue, and consent is the issue, than certainly rape in marriage should be included," she said. | "If bodily integrity is the issue, and consent is the issue, than certainly rape in marriage should be included," she said. |
| Kumari also said the 10-year maximum sentence for acid attacks was too light and that the government's decision to set the age of consent at 18 was out of touch with the sexual mores of modern youth. | Kumari also said the 10-year maximum sentence for acid attacks was too light and that the government's decision to set the age of consent at 18 was out of touch with the sexual mores of modern youth. |
| She praised much of the law as a "huge victory", but said an insensitive police force and overburdened judiciary could make it difficult to enforce. "The implementation remains the larger challenge." | She praised much of the law as a "huge victory", but said an insensitive police force and overburdened judiciary could make it difficult to enforce. "The implementation remains the larger challenge." |
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