If we were to go only by numbers, Australia and Sweden would seem to be the rape capitals of the world, with w... Read More

NEW DELHI: If we were to go only by numbers, Australia and Sweden would seem to be the rape capitals of the world, with women being most unsafe in these countries.

Of course, the definition of rape differs from country to country and that, coupled with how well the crime is reported and recorded, determines what the numbers are finally going to look like.

This difference in definition would explain why countries like India figure as nations with very low incidence of rape compared to places like Sweden or even Norway and France. For, the case of rape against Julian Assange in Sweden would not even be counted as rape in India.

Moreover, in most countries, even in the developed world, rape is listed as one of the most under-reported crimes. This would be even more so in countries like India. In most countries, the increase in the number of rape cases is often the result of a broadening of the definition of rape, which could explain why some countries like Sweden and Norway show a spike in the crime.

Along with the changes in definition, many of the countries have instituted reforms which were expected to help improve the conviction rate of sexual crimes. Reforms in rape laws have included greater reliance on the evidence of women and children compared to a time when corroboration was required in rape trials. Definition of consent, rape shield law, which limits what the defence can ask you about your prior sexual history, and outdated notions about signs of physical struggle being indicative of rape being changed have helped victims in pursuing justice.

It seems to have worked for some countries like the UK where it has been reported that conviction rate for rape is 58%. In the US, in 2010, the arrest rate for rape was just 24%. In Sweden, the conviction rate is as low as 10%, among the lowest in Europe. In comparison, India has an average rape conviction rate of 26%. The importance of conviction rates is that victims and the general public have often stated that low conviction rates make them hesitate to report rape as they have little faith in the legal system to deliver justice.

