Pakistan approves project for chemical castration of rapists

The lower house of Pakistan’s Parliament approved a bill that provides for the chemical castration of those people convicted of rape on several occasions, given the increase in cases of sexual violence in the Asian country. The project, which has already received the approval of the government and the president, Arif Alvi, seeks to amend the Penal Code and contemplates the creation of special courts to speed up proceedings against those convicted of rape.

Thus, it states that “chemical castration is a process contemplated by the rules established by the prime minister in which a person is unable to have sexual relations during a period of his life that would be determined by the court through the administration of medicines. that must be prescribed by a medical committee ».

The bill was approved amidst opposition from Senator Mushtaq Ahmed, a member of Jamaat-e-Islami, who said it was “anti-Islamic” and “contrary to Sharia.” Thus he defended that the condemned should be hanged in public and not castrated.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Jan was in favor of the project and called for “creating a safe environment for citizens”, while sources quoted by the Pakistani television channel Geo TV reported that several ministers were also supporters of the penalty of death.

The bill, approved in December 2020 by President Alvi, contemplates the creation of a registry of sexual criminals and prohibits the publication of the identities of the victims, while the police and officials who show “negligence” when investigating the Cases could be sentenced to up to three years in jail. Complaints have also increased due to the numerous cases of violations against minors in the country. Pakistani Human Rights Minister Shirin Mazari pointed out in November 2020 the existence of “a beastly way of thinking” that “continues to sweep away society.”

“Cruel” treatments

However, Rimmel Mohydin of Amnesty International highlighted in December 2020 that “Forced chemical castrations would violate Pakistan’s constitutional and international obligations to prohibit torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.” “Punishments like this will do nothing. to fix the failures of the justice system. Rather than trying to divert attention, authorities should focus on crucial reform work that addresses the root causes of sexual violence and gives survivors the justice they deserve and the protection they need. ‘

In this regard, a Pakistani court in January banned the so-called “two-finger tests” carried out by medical personnel to determine whether a woman has been raped, after declaring them “illegal and unconstitutional”. Thus, he stressed that “they are not scientific and have no medical basis, so they have no forensic value in cases of sexual violence.”

The court underlined in its verdict that these tests “offend the personal dignity of the victim and go against their right to life and dignity, contemplated in articles 9 and 14 of the Constitution”, before stressing that “they are discriminatory against the victim, when they are carried out because of their gender ».

Hundreds of women are raped every year in Pakistan, where victims and various non-governmental organizations have criticized the lack of convictions against those responsible. In addition, victims are frequently accused of the attacks they suffer, which carries a stigma that has also caused many of them not to dare to report.