Death penalty not to end crimes against women in India:Amnesty

Amnesty International today said that far reaching reforms, instead of capital punishment, is needed to tackle violence against women in India.
Reacting to a Delhi court's decision to hand death penalty to the four convicts in the December 16 gangrape-cum-murder case Tara Rao, Director, Amnesty International India said, "The rape and murder of the young woman in Delhi last year was a horrific crime and our deepest sympathy goes out to the victim's family. Those responsible must be punished, but the death penalty is never the answer."
Mukesh (26), Akshay Thakur (28), Pawan Gupta (19) and Vinay Sharma (20) were convicted by the court on September 10 for the brutal gangrape of a 23-year-old paramedic student on the night of December 16 which eventually led to her death.

The gangrape sparked massive protests all over India. In April, Indian government passed new laws which criminalised several forms of violence against women, including acid attacks, stalking and voyeurism.
Rao said that there is no evidence that the death penalty is a particular deterrent to crime, and its use will not eradicate violence against women in India.
"Sending these four men to the gallows will accomplish nothing except short-term revenge. While the widespread anger over this case is understandable, authorities must avoid using the death penalty as a quick-fix solution," she added.

"Cases of rape and other forms of sexual violence against women are still common throughout India. Rape within marriage is still not considered a crime under law if the wife is over 15, and security forces continue to enjoy effective legal immunity for sexual violence," Rao said.

Addressing this issue requires legal reform, but also sustained commitment by the authorities to ensure that the justice system responds effectively at all levels to reports of rape and other forms of sexual violence, she said.
"The attention that authorities have given to this case must extend to the thousands of other pending cases of sexual violence in India as well. Authorities are yet to fully implement several progressive recommendations made by the Justice Verma Committee, including around police training and reform, and changing how reports of sexual violence are registered and investigated," she added.
Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception, regardless of the nature or circumstances of the crime.