Here's why the death penalty for child rapists may not help much

Do our patriarchal and judgemental police, prosecutors, judges and the media even believe these victims, let alone award death penalty?

The Union cabinet has cleared an ordinance to amend several provisions of the Indian Penal Code, POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr.PC)  and Indian Evidence Act. This includes an amendment for death penalty for rape of children below 12 years. The announcement appears to follow a predictable pattern – when the government is on the back foot, announce ‘death penalty’ to appease the public. However, such a statement is a mere eye-wash for the government’s apathy in addressing core concerns of rape victims and the deplorable condition of the Special POCSO Courts in