Islamabad:
Pakistan’s Cabinet has authorized two anti-rape ordinances which known as for the chemical castration of rapists with the consent of the convict and setting up of particular courts for rape trials, according to a media report.
A meeting of the Cabinet committee on legislative circumstances chaired by federal Law Minister Farogh Naseem on Thursday authorized the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Ordinance 2020 and the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance 2020. The ordinances have currently been authorized in-principle by the federal Cabinet on Tuesday, the Dawn News reported.
The notion of chemical castration for 1st or repeated offenders has been introduced mostly as a kind of rehabilitation, and topic to consent of the convict, it stated.
According to law minister Naseem, it is mandatory below the international law to take consent of the convict ahead of castrating him. In case, chemical castration is ordered without having taking consent, the convict may well challenge this ahead of a court of law, he stated.
If a convict would not agree to castration, he would be dealt with in accordance with the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) below which the court may well award him death sentence, life imprisonment or 25-year jail term, the minister stated.
However, he stated, it is up to the court to choose the punishment. The judge may perhaps order chemical castration or the punishment below the PPC.
The court may well order castration for a restricted period or lifetime, Mr Naseem stated.
The ordinances also supply for setting up of particular courts to conduct trial in rape circumstances. Special prosecutors for the particular courts will also be appointed.
As per the proposed legislations, anti-rape crisis cells headed by a commissioner or deputy commissioner will be set up to make certain prompt registration of a 1st data report, health-related examination and forensic evaluation.
It also bar the cross-examination of a rape survivor by the accused. Only judge and the accused’s lawyers will be capable to cross-examine the survivor.
The proposed laws consist of in-camera trials, witness protection for the victim and witnesses, use of modern day devices through investigation and trial, legal help to the victims and appointment of independent help advisers for the victims.
It prohibits the controversial “two-finger” test performed on rape survivors. The World Health Organisation has currently declared the test as “unscientific, medically unnecessary and unreliable”. Human Rights groups have also termed the test as invasive, disrespectful and a gross violation of a woman’s appropriate to dignity and privacy.
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