The Aftermath of Rape: Survivors Speak

Description

This book documents the journey of the survivors of sexual violence as they navigate the gruelling criminal justice and health care systems and the stigma and hostility in their communities in the aftermath of the incident. Through personal narratives of survivors and their family members, the book examines critical gaps in the existing networks of criminal procedure, health, and rehabilitation for survivors of sexual violence and rape. Using qualitative research, it distills the narratives gathered through interviews with survivors and their family members to understand their experiences and offers. The book contributes to the corpus of literature on different forms of violence against women in India with an emphasis on understanding the effectiveness of institutions, both formal and informal, in responding to sexual violence, and offering suggestions for changes in the health and support systems available to them. It documents post-incident interactions of survivors with family, community, the police, courts, lawyers, and hospitals and highlights the impact of rape on physical and mental health, work, relationships, education and housing for survivors and their families. This book will be of interest to those engaged in providing support to survivors of sexual violence as well as students and researchers of social work and social policy, health and social care, law, gender studies, human rights and civil liberties, gender and sexuality, social welfare, and mental health. Cover Half Title Title Copyright Dedication Contents Acknowledgements Introduction 1 Contextualising the survivors’ narratives 2 “People feel we should always remain sad, not eat well or live well as such an incident has occurred.” – Ria’s mother 3 “Do whatever you want to do. As a father, I will not take back the case.” – Sara’s father 4 “We had to choose between education and well-being of our daughter versus appeal in the higher court.” – Sana’s father 5 “Every time there was a new lawyer, I was called again, and I was asked the same thing again and again.” – Bindu’s mother 6 Woh (“If he is innocent then am I the criminal?”) – Rani 7 “We were forced to leave the city due to continued abuse. Is this fair on my kids?” – Anu 8 “They have mentioned on record that physical and mental cruelty by the husband has happened, but no mention of sexual cruelty.” – Neeta 9 Way forward Index