Gender equality: constitutional mandate with reference to justice verma committee report on criminal law amendments

Abstract

It has come to the limelight that in about 10% of rape and sexual assault cases that occur, the victims are men. In such cases, the perpetrator could be a man, woman or a transgender. However, this is not recognised by the law, as it exists today, even after the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013. It typecasts men in the role of the offender and women in the role of the victim. The Justice Verma Committee, which was formed pursuant to the brutal gang rape of a 23-year-old student in Delhi, in its recommendations, has suggested that rape and sexual assault laws should be made gender neutral. All victims whether female or male should get justice under one law and should cover under one law. Because this fight against rape not against human beings.

Keywords: Gender Neutral Sexual assault, Gender free, Justice Verma Committee Report, Criminal Law Amendment Act 2013, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966, The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966.

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