January 9, 2013

Sexual Assault In India and Ohio

On December 16th, 2012 Jyoti Singh Pandey, a 23 year old physiotherapy student was violently beaten, gang raped and murdered by 5 men in Delhi, India. The tragedy has sparked protests across the country with campaigners protesting for reforms to the police and for changes to the laws on violence against women. This watershed case has caused uproar across the globe and is being speculated by the media on a daily basis.

Women across India have constantly struggled with the justice system in the country and the lack of conviction in sexual assault trials. Continuously charges fail to be filed against the accused perpetrators and women are frequently not taken seriously. Key public figures in India including Guru Asharam have responded to the case, indicating that women are to be blamed for rape.  Last week the BBC interviewed a senior police officer Kiran Bedi who expressed that she was not surprised by the gang rape in Delhi, but that the government needed to work on changing society’s attitudes towards sexual assault.

Although India’s government has condemned the gang rape and promised a fast-track trial of the accused, no politician has addressed the bigger cultural issues surrounding violence against women. Protests are set to continue with strive for change from the support of men and women across the country.

In Steubenville, Ohio, in early January 2013, a young woman was allegedly raped while unconscious.  The media has brought to light that the rape was committed by two Steubenville high school football players. 

To acknowledge the tragic rape and murder of Jyoti Singh Pandey, the rape of the young woman in Ohio, and the ongoing violence against women, the Sexual Assault Support Centre (SASC) would like to invite campus community members to join us in lighting a candle.

The SASC will be tabling for the UBC Sexual Assault Awareness month from 11am-3pm on the following dates and at the following locations:

  1. January 10th – SUB by the Conversation Pit (Main Concourse)
  2. January 16th – SUB by the Conversation Pit (Main Concourse)
  3. January 22nd – SUB by Pacific Spirit Place Cafeteria (SUB South Lounge)
  4. January 28th – SUB Main Concourse


Please come by for more information on sexual assault and to show your support towards a society free from violence.

Additional reading:            *trigger warning*

Article: 
End culture of rape in 2013 
Article: Online outrage over Ohio rape case prompts city website
Article: 5 Men Charged With Murder in New Delhi Gang Rape

Article: Everything You Really, Really Didn’t Want to Know about the Steubenville Rape Case

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