The legal kind of rape

"We had a heated argument and then he forced himself on me. I resisted as hard as I could, but he didn't stop. And then he inserted a torch inside me..." - Rashmi (not her real name) -- Rashmi and millions of Indian women like her are raped by their husbands but feel trapped with no path to justice. Minister of Women Maneka Gandhi is on the fence about whether to criminalise marital rape -- let's tip the scales with a massive outcry and change this cruel law: Sign the petition Dear friends across India, Rashmi is one of millions of Indian women raped routinely by their husbands. Unbelievably, a legal loophole still allows these rapist men to get off scot-free because it's their wives they raped! But now we have an opportunity to close it. Minister of Women Maneka Gandhi -- under pressure after controversial comments -- has now said she'll consider criminalising marital rape if she hears adequate complaints. Let's flood her with our voices to close this loophole once and for all -- join below to lend a hand to Rashmi and millions of others like her: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/india_marital_rape_3b/?bQwOObb&v=75889&cl=9890490260 Minister Maneka Gandhi has flip-flopped on this -- just last year, she condemned marital rape as unacceptable, but last month, she said it cannot be suitably applied in Indian context due to factors such as poverty and social customs. Facing great criticism, she has now said her ministry is open to criminalising marital rape -- but there are other top government officials who oppose this and without public pressure the law may not get changed. Those opposing the change point to an anti-dowry law that reportedly gets abused by a lot of women making false allegations of dowry -- arguing this'd open the floodgates of false rape-claims and threaten the institution of marriage. But with marital rape up to 40 times as common as other rape and so massively underreported, claims of false-reporting are vastly exaggerated, distracting from the need for protection currently unavailable to millions of women who suffer marital rape without having legal recourse. Just because a crime may be more difficult to prove does not make it any less of a crime! A high-level committee just told the government to criminalise marital rape putting Minister Maneka Gandhi on the defensive -- let's build on this momentum to close this cruel loophole once and for all -- sign below to stand with rape survivors: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/india_marital_rape_3b/?bQwOObb&v=75889&cl=9890490260 Our community has campaigned relentlessly on women's rights -- developing a Womanifesto with leading activists when the current government came into power, and standing up for justice for rape survivors time and again. This is now a rare opportunity to make a difference in the lives of so many who suffer in silence -- let's declare a resounding NO to all kinds of rape. With hope and determination, Risalat, Mélanie, Alex and the rest of the Avaaz team MORE INFORMATION: Government mulling criminalising marital rape (Indian Express) http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/govt-mulling-criminalising-marital-rape-maneka-gandhi-women-and-child-development-2760664/ Marital and other rapes grossly underreported (The Hindu) http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/marital-and-other-rapes-grossly-underreported/article6524794.ece High-level panel slams legislature for failing to criminalise marital rape (Indian Express) http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/legislature-slammed-for-not-criminalizing-marital-rape-2761529/ India marital rape victims' lonely battle for justice (BBC) http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-32810834

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