After a huge outcry against the victim-blaming that has been going on in Pakistan in connection with sexual harassment victims, the country’s government has now passed a lot that allows chemical castration of convicted habitual rapists. This was passed on Tuesday after President Arif Alvi passed an anti-rape ordinance. The chemical castration punishment is to be given subject to the consent of the convict.
The new law aims at ensuring that the verdict for rape cases against women and children is fast-tracked. It also provides for the government to establish special courts all over the country for this purpose.
In addition to this, a countrywide database of sexual offenders is also to be established. However, the identities of the victims are not to be disclosed.
The ordinance followed after Prime Minister Imran Khan announced was under public pressure to bring strict laws to deal with the rising rape incidents in Pakistan. Recently in September, a woman who was forced to get out of the car after she ran out of fuel was raped in presence of her minor children. The two culprits involved in the crime were arrested and are under trial.