Indian Parliamentary Session - 2014

Chair: Shreya Maini


IndianParliamentarySession2014
DearDelegates,

WelcometoVAMUNXXXVIandtheIndianParliament!Iamreally
excitedforthiscommitteeandcannotwaittoseewhatyouallcontributeaswe
tackletheIndianrapecrisisandfightwidespreadsexualviolence.Preparefora
committeefilledwithstrongdebateandschemingparliamentarypolitics!
MynameisShreyaMainiandIama2ndyearintheCollegeofArtsand
SciencesintendingtomajorinHistoryandMusic,withpossibleminorsin
PhilosophyandMedievalStudies.AlthoughIwasborninRichmond,Virginia,
andhavespentmostofmylifegrowingupinNorthernVirginia,Ihavealways
takenakeeninterestinmyIndianheritage,andthestateofIndiaspoliticaland
socialclimate.SincetheDecember2012attackagainstayoungwomanona
movingvehiclesurfacedtotheglobalstage,Ihavebecomeparticularlyinterested
inissuesregardingwomensrightsandgenderviolenceinIndia,andwhat
differentorganizationsandpartsofsocietycandotoaddressthisissue.
MyModelUNexperiencecommencedduringmyfirstsemesterofcollege
whenIparticipatedasadelegatetotheAfricanNationalCongressatNCSCXLII.
Sincethen,IhavestaffedVAMUN,vicechairedforVICS(UVAscollegiate
conference),andtravelledto&MUN.InthespringIwillbeservingasthe
UnderSecretaryGeneralforLogisticsatVICSXXII.ThisVAMUNwillbemy
firsttimechairing,andIamsuperexcitedtoworkwiththemanytalented
delegatesonanissuethatisclosetomyheart.
Inmyfreetime(whateverthatmeansIliketothinkthatalltimeisfree
time,andthatwechooseourobligationsbutthatsadifferentconversation
entirely)Iliketoplaypiano,writepoetry,cook,dance,travel,hike,andbasically
domostfunthings.ThispastsummerIstudiedabroadatOxfordUniversityand
tooktwocoursesinEnglishliterature,whichwassuperawesomeandfun.Ialso
loveanimals,andhavearidiculouslycutemaltipoonamedTilluJaanFerrari
Maini(butwejustcallhimTillu).Preparetoseepicturesthatwillredefineyour
conceptionsofwhatitistobeadorable.
Apartfromthat,pleasefeelfreetoemailmewithabsolutelyanyquestions
youhaveregardingthiscommittee,ModelUNingeneral,UVA,applyingto
college,oreven19thcenturyWesternartmusic(Illtrymybestwiththatlast
one).CongratulationstoallofyouforparticipatinginVAMUNXXXVI,andIlook
forwardtomeetingyouallinNovember!

Kindestregards,

ShreyaMaini
Chair,IndianParliament
sm5yd@virginia.edu


IndianParliamentarySession2014
CommitteeOverview
Background
ThiscommitteesimulatestheIndianParliamentafterDecember16,2012,
whentheinfamousgangrapeandmurderof23yearoldJyotiSinghonamoving
businNewDelhisurfacedtotheglobalstage.Thishorrificincidentgenerated
widespreadnationalandinternationalcoverage,andsparkedmassivepublic
protestsinNewDelhiagainstthestateandcentralgovernmentsforfailingto
provideadequatesecurityandprotectionsforwomenandrapevictims.
Thousandsofprotestersclashedwithsecurityforces,eventuallypromptinga
judicialcommitteetofinallystudyandtakepublicsuggestionsforthebestways
toamendlawstoprovidequickerinvestigationandprosecutionofsexoffenders.
Thisisahumanitariancommitteethatnotonlydealswiththerapecrisis
andhowtofixIndiaslegal/lawenforcementsystemtodealwiththisheinous
crime,butalsoonethataddresseswomensrightsingeneral,andhowtoputin
placeeducationalmeasures(suchassexeducationandeducationonconsent)to
counterIndiasrapeculture.Ilookforwardtothisbeingaverydynamicand
interestingcommitteeonehasonlytolookattheIndiangovernmentinthelast
twoyearstounderstandhowdifficultandcomplexitistomakeprogressinthis
areaofsocialchange.ManyconservativefactionsoftheIndiangovernment
placingtheblameofrapeonboththevictimand,recently,thegovernment
changeinMay2014totheHindunationalistBharatiyaJanataPartywith
NarendraModiasPM.Thedelegateswillhencebetaskedwithcomingupwith


IndianParliamentarySession2014
meanstostructurallyimprovethenation,andwillbefunctioningasanormal
Parliamentwithasimplemajoritybeingrequiredtopasslegislation.

Delhi,IndiasRapeCapital
NewDelhihasthehighestnumberofsexcrimesamongIndia'smajor
cities.Policefiguresshowarapeisreportedonaverageevery18hours.Between
2007and2011,reportedrapecasesrosebynearly17percent.In2012,onlyone
outofevery706rapecasesfiledactuallyendedinconviction.BetweenDecember
16,2012andJanuary4,2013,501callsforharassmentand64callsforrapewere
1

recordedbytheDelhiPolice,butonlyfourwerefollowedupbyinquiries.[ ]
NearlyoneinthreerapevictimsinIndiaareundertheageof18.Onein10are
2 ]

undertheageof14.Every20minutesinIndia,awomanisraped.[

IndianPenalCodeandLawsAgainstRape
Atthestartofthiscommittee,Section375oftheIndianPenalCode
definesrapeas:
Rape.Amanissaidtocommitrapewho,exceptcasehereinafterexcepted,hassexual
intercoursewithawomanincircumstancesfallingunderanyofthesixfollowing
descriptions:
Firstly.Againstherwill.
Secondly.Withoutherconsent.
Thirdly.Withherconsent,whenherconsenthasbeenobtainedbyputtingher
oranypersoninwhomsheisinterested,infearofdeathorofhurt.
1

Abidi,Adnan,andDeviduttaTripathy."BodyofIndiaRapeVictimCrematedinNewDelhi."Reuters.
December30,2012.AccessedSeptember04,2016.

2 Arakali,Harichandan."RapeInIndia:'Epidemic'OfSexualViolenceAgainstWomenAndChildren,
RapeLawsAren'tEnough,ExpertsSay."InternationalBusinessTimes.October27,2015.Accessed
September04,2016.
3


IndianParliamentarySession2014
Fourthly.Withherconsent,whenthemanknowsthatheisnotherhusband,
andthatherconsentisgivenbecauseshebelievesthatheisanothermanto
whomsheisorbelievesherselftobelawfullymarried.
Fifthly.Withherconsent,when,atthetimeofgivingsuchconsent,byreason
ofunsoundnessofmindorintoxicationortheadministrationbyhimpersonally
orthroughanotherofanystupefyingorunwholesomesubstance,sheisunableto
understandthenatureandconsequencesofthattowhichshegivesconsent.
Sixthly.Withorwithoutherconsent,whensheisundersixteenyearsofage.
Explanation.Penetrationissufficienttoconstitutethesexualintercourse
necessarytotheoffenceofrape.
Exception.Sexualintercoursebyamanwithhisownwife,thewifenotbeing
3
underfifteenyearsofage,isnotrape.[ ]

Policing
Indiahashistoricallyhadamuchlowerpercentageoffemalepolice
officersthanotherAsiancountries.Studiesshowthatwomenaremorelikelyto
reportsexcrimesiffemalepoliceofficersareavailable.InNewDelhi,just7
percentofpoliceofficersarewomen,andtheyarefrequentlygiven
inconsequentialpoststhatdon'tinvolvepatrolduty,accordingtotheTimesof
India.Ofthe161districtpolicestationsinDelhi,onlyonehasafemalestation
4

houseofficer.[ ]
Whenwomendoreportrapechargestomalepolice,theyarefrequently
demeaned.CharanjitKaur,thesisterofanotherrecentrapevictimwho
committedsuicide,toldTheWashingtonPost,Thepolicerefusedtofilea
complaint.Instead,theyaskedmysistersuchvulgardetails,itwasasifshewas

"Section375inTheIndianPenalCode."Section375inTheIndianPenalCode.AccessedSeptember04,
2016.
4 Khazan,Olga,andRamaLakshmi."10ReasonsWhyIndiaHasaSexualViolenceProblem."Washington
Post.December29,2012.AccessedSeptember04,2016.


IndianParliamentarySession2014
beingrapedalloveragain.Therewasnoladypoliceofficer,theywereallmen.My
sistercriedinfrontofthemandkeptasking,Wouldyoustillasksuchquestions
5

ifIwereyourdaughter?[ ]
Thereisalsoashortageofpoliceingeneral.Delhi,forexample,ishometo
oneofthelargestmetropolitanpoliceforcesintheworldwithsome84,000
officers.Butonlyonethirdareinvolvedinanykindofactualpolicingatany
giventime,whiletherestprovideprotectionservicestovariouspoliticians,senior
bureaucrats,diplomatsandotherelites.AccordingtotheTimesofIndiathereis
oneofficerforevery200citizens.Manyofthosewhodoperformpoliceduties
canbefoundshakingdownmotorists,participatinginprotectionracketsand
6

simplylookingtheotherwayascrimestakeplace.[ ]

CourtSystem
India'scourtsystemispainfullyslow,inpartbecauseofashortageof
judges.Thecountryhasabout15judgesforevery1millionpeople,whileChina
has159.ADelhihighcourtjudgeonceestimateditwouldtake466yearstoget
throughthebackloginthecapitalalone.Forrapesthatdogetreported,Indias
convictionrateisnomorethan26percent.Thereisalsonolawonthebooks
coveringroutinedailysexualharassment,whichiseuphemisticallycalled

Khazan,Olga,andRamaLakshmi."10ReasonsWhyIndiaHasaSexualViolenceProblem."Washington
Post.December29,2012.AccessedSeptember04,2016.
6
Khazan,Olga,andRamaLakshmi."10ReasonsWhyIndiaHasaSexualViolenceProblem."Washington
Post.December29,2012.AccessedSeptember04,2016.
5


IndianParliamentarySession2014
"eveteasing."Thepassingofaproposednewsexualassaultlawhasbeendelayed
7

forsevenyears.[ ]

LowStatusofWomen
Perhapsthebiggestissue,though,iswomen'soveralllowerstatusin
Indiansociety.Forpoorfamilies,theneedtopayamarriagedowrycanmake
daughtersaburden.Indiahasoneofthelowestfemaletomalepopulationratios
intheworldbecauseofsexselectiveabortionandfemaleinfanticide.Throughout
theirlives,sonsarefedbetterthantheirsisters,aremorelikelytobesentto
schoolandhavebrightercareerprospects.

Inrecentdays,Indianpoliticianshaveputforwardaslewofpotential
remediesforIndia'ssexualviolenceproblem.Butit'sworthnotingthatitwillbe
hardtoenddiscriminationagainstwomenatpolicestationswhenitstartsinthe
8

crib.[ ]

Timeline
TheIncidentDecember16,2012
OnDecember16,2012,the23yearoldmedicalstudentJyotiSinghand
herfriend,AwindraPandey,werereturninghomeafterwatchingthemovieLife

Khazan,Olga,andRamaLakshmi."10ReasonsWhyIndiaHasaSexualViolenceProblem."Washington
Post.December29,2012.AccessedSeptember04,2016.
8 Khazan,Olga,andRamaLakshmi."10ReasonsWhyIndiaHasaSexualViolenceProblem."Washington
Post.December29,2012.AccessedSeptember04,2016.
6


IndianParliamentarySession2014
ofPiatamovietheater.[

9][10 ]

Atabout9:30pmIST,theyboardedanoffduty

charterbusthatclaimedtobeheadedintheirdirection.Therewereonlysixother
menonthebus,includingthedriver,allofwhombegantoharassthecouple,
11

askingwhattheyweredoingaloneatsuchalatehour.[ ]
SoonarowensuedbetweenPandeyandthegroupofmen,andhewas
beaten,gaggedandknockedunconsciouswithanironrod.Thementhendragged
Jyotitotherearofthebus,beatingherwiththerodandrapingheroneatatime
whilethebusdrivercontinuedtodrive.Afterwardsthecouplewerethrownfrom
12

thebuswhileitwasstillmoving.[ ]
Thevictimswerefoundontheroadbyapasserbyataround11pm.The
passerbycalledtheDelhiPolice,whotookthecoupletoSafdarjungHospital,
whereJyotiwasgivenemergencytreatment.Throughthemorning,police
workedattracingthewhitebusthatPandey,badlyhurtbutstillconscious,had
beenabletodescribetothem.TheystartedcheckingCCTVfootageofhotels
clusteredaroundMahipalpur.OnenoticedabuswiththenameYadavpaintedon
theside,whichpassedthecrossroadstwiceanhourbeforethecouplehadbeen
reported.Theyfounditsowner,whohadbribedlocalofficialsafterbeing

Hills,Suzannah."JudgeBarsDelhiGangRapeDefendantsfromChaoticCourtroomafter150People
CramintoSpaceMeantfor30."MailOnline.January07,2013.AccessedSeptember04,2016.
10 "DelhiGangrapeVictimRegainsConsciousness,next48HoursCritical."FirstpostDelhi.December18,
2012.AccessedSeptember04,2016.
11 Sikdar,Shubhomoy."DelhiGangrape:VictimNarratestheTaleofHorror."TheHindu.December22,
2012.AccessedSeptember05,2016.
12 Burke,Jason."DelhiRape:HowIndia'sOtherHalfLives."TheGuardian.September10,2013.
AccessedSeptember05,2016.
7


IndianParliamentarySession2014
repeatedlycaughtrunningunlicensedfleets,andgotanaddressforoneofthe
13

attackers.[ ]

AftertheIncident
PublicprotestscondemningtherapistseruptedinNewDelhionDecember
21,2012atRaisinaHill,wheretheParliamentofIndiaandtheofficialresidence
ofthePresidentofIndiaarelocated,andattheIndiaGate.Thousandsof
protestersclashedwithpolice,wheredemonstratorswerebatoncharged,shot
14

withwatercannonandteargasshells,andarrested.[ ]Similarprotestsoccurred
throughoutthecountry.Morethan600womendemonstratedinBangalore,and
15 ][16 ]

thousandsofpeoplesilentlymarchedinKolkata.[

TheHindustanTimesaccusedpoliceofusingexcessiveforceagainstthe
protestors,reportingthat375teargascanisterswereusedatIndiaGateand
17

elsewhereinDelhitodispersethecrowds.[ ]AnarticleinFirstPostcriticizedthe
Indiangovernmentaswell,sayingthattheyfailedtoactpositivelyorgive
18

credibleassurancestotheprotestersandinsteadusedpoliceforce.[ ]

13

Burke,Jason."DelhiRape:HowIndia'sOtherHalfLives."TheGuardian.September10,2013.
AccessedSeptember05,2016.
14 Staff,News18."GovernmentWaging'war'againstPeople:Kejriwal."News18.December23,2012.
AccessedSeptember05,2016.
15 "DelhiGangrape:Women,StudentsProtestinBangalore."TimesofIndia.December22,2012.
AccessedSeptember05,2016.
16 Deka,JimAnkan."BangalorePaysTributetoDelhiGangrapeVictim."Demotix.December30,2012.
AccessedSeptember05,2016.
17 Haider,Faizan."DelhiCopsGoShoppingforNasty,ItchyTearGasHindustanTimes."TheHindustan
Times.December25,2012.AccessedSeptember05,2016.
18 Kaul,Vivek."ShindespeakShowsAllThatIsWrongwithGovernmentFirstpost."Firstpost.
December24,2012.AccessedSeptember05,2016.
8


IndianParliamentarySession2014

AftertheVictimsDeath
AfterJyotiSingh'sdeathonDecember29,2012,protestswerestagedall
overIndia,includingKolkata,Chennai,Bengaluru,Hyderabad,Kochi,
19

Thiruvananthapuram,MumbaiandVisakhapatnam.[ ]AllroadsleadingtoIndia
Gatewereclosedbypoliceandareaswhereprotestershadgatheredduringthe
20 ]

previousweekwereoutofboundstothepublic.[

Someoftheprotestersdrew

graffitiandslogansonpapersspreadontheroad,condemningtheincidentand
demandingstricterlawsandspeedyjudgement.TheBharatiyaJanataParty
(BJP)reneweditsdemandforaspecialparliamentsessiontodiscussthecase
21

andtoadoptstricterlawsoncrimeagainstwomen.[ ]
TheIndianprotestsalsosparkedprotestsacrosssouthAsia,including
marchesandralliesinNepal,SriLanka,PakistanandBangladesh.InNepal,
hundredsofdemonstratorsinKathmanducalledforlegalreformsandan
overhaulofattitudestowomen.InBangladeshthehumanrightsgroupAino
SalishKendra(ASK)saidtheprotestsinDelhihadgivenfreshimpetusto
protestsagainstsexualviolence.AccordingtoanASKspokesperson,"although
previousdemonstrationsonsimilarissueswerelargelydominatedbywomen,
menwerenowprotestingtoo.Theprotestshadalsodrawnpeoplefromabroad
rangeofsociety."InParis,peopleparticipatedinamarchtotheIndianembassy
19

"DelhiGangRape:ProtestsGoViralNationwide,UnstoppablePublicOutpouringasGangRapeVictim
Dies."TheEconomicTimes.December29,2012.AccessedSeptember05,2016.
20 "DelhiGangrape:ProtestersClashwithPoliceatJantarMantar."TheEconomicTimes.Accessed
September05,2016.
21 "BJPDisapprovesofRestrictions,QuestionsHushhushMannerCremationofDelhiGangrapeVictim."
IndiaToday.December30,2012.AccessedSeptember05,2016.
9


IndianParliamentarySession2014
whereapetitionwashandedoveraskingforactiontomakeIndiasaferfor
women.

ImportantEvents
December16,2012:StudentgangrapedonDelhibus
December17:BusdriverRamSinghandthreeothersarrested
December18:ProtestscarriedoutbypeopleontheRingRoadnearthe
Munirkasignalagainstthegangrape.LeaderoftheOppositionSushma
SwarajshakesupParliamentwithdemandingdeathpenaltyforrapists.
December2122:Twomorearrests,includingaminor
December29:VictimdiesinaSingaporehospital
January21,2013:Trialoffiveoftheaccusedbeginsinspecialfasttrack
courttheylaterpleadnotguilty
February28:Sixthaccusedchargedinjuvenilecourt
March11:RamSinghfounddeadinTiharjail
August31:Juvenilefoundguiltyandgiventhreeyearterminreform
facility
September10:FourmenfoundguiltybyaDelhicourt
September13:Deathpenaltyverdictsissued

QuestionstoConsider
1. WhataboutSection375oftheIndianPenalCode(ifanything)is
particularlyproblematic?
10


IndianParliamentarySession2014
2. HowcanIndiaspolicingsystembesystematicallyreformed?
3. HowcanIndiasjudicialsystembesystematicallyreformed?
4. WhataretheculturalchangesthatneedtotakeplacetotransformIndias
rapeculture,andhowcanthosechangesbebroughtabout?
5. Howshouldpolicedealwithprotesters?

GuidetoResearch
Thisguideshouldbethestartingpointofresearchintothecommitteeandthe
underlyingtopics.ThereisalotofinformationavailableonIndiaspolitical
parties,theDelhirapecrisis,andwomensissuesonwebsiteslikeTheGuardian
UK,TheTimesofIndia,TheBBC,andTheHindustanTimes.

11


IndianParliamentarySession2014
Bibliography

Abidi,Adnan,andDeviduttaTripathy."BodyofIndiaRapeVictimCrematedin
NewDelhi."Reuters.December30,2012.AccessedSeptember04,2016.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/ukindiarapeidUKBRE8BR0EE20121230.
Arakali,Harichandan."RapeInIndia:'Epidemic'OfSexualViolenceAgainst
WomenAndChildren,RapeLawsAren'tEnough,ExpertsSay."
InternationalBusinessTimes.October27,2015.AccessedSeptember04,
2016.
http://www.ibtimes.com/rapeindiaepidemicsexualviolenceagainstwo
menchildrenrapelawsarentenough2157704.
"BJPDisapprovesofRestrictions,QuestionsHushhushMannerCremationof
DelhiGangrapeVictim."IndiaToday.December30,2012.Accessed
September05,2016.
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/delhigangrapeprotestsbjpvictimcre
mation/1/240122.html.
Burke,Jason."DelhiRape:HowIndia'sOtherHalfLives."TheGuardian.
September10,2013.AccessedSeptember05,2016.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/10/delhigangrapeindia
women.

12


IndianParliamentarySession2014
Deka,JimAnkan."BangalorePaysTributetoDelhiGangrapeVictim."Demotix.
December30,2012.AccessedSeptember05,2016.
http://web.archive.org/web/20130107053736/http://www.demotix.com:
80/news/1700981/bangalorepaystributedelhigangrapevictim.
"DelhiGangrape:ProtestersClashwithPoliceatJantarMantar."TheEconomic
Times.AccessedSeptember05,2016.
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/20121230/news/3606357
0_1_protestersclashjantarmantarpeacefuldemonstration.
"DelhiGangRape:ProtestsGoViralNationwide,UnstoppablePublicOutpouring
asGangRapeVictimDies."TheEconomicTimes.December29,2012.
AccessedSeptember05,2016.
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/20121229/news/3605104
6_1_jantarmantarmarchessilentprotest.
"DelhiGangrapeVictimRegainsConsciousness,next48HoursCritical
Firstpost."FirstpostDelhiGangrapeVictimRegainsConsciousnessnext
48HoursCriticalComments.December18,2012.AccessedSeptember04,
2016.
http://www.firstpost.com/india/delhigangrapevictimregainsconscious
nessnext48hourscritical561535.html.

13


IndianParliamentarySession2014
"DelhiGangrape:Women,StudentsProtestinBangalore."TimesofIndia.
December22,2012.AccessedSeptember05,2016.
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/20121222/news/3596936
1_1_studentsprotestwomencrimes.
Haider,Faizan."DelhiCopsGoShoppingforNasty,ItchyTearGasHindustan
Times."TheHindustanTimes.December25,2012.AccessedSeptember
05,2016.
http://web.archive.org/web/20121226201353/http://www.hindustantime
s.com/Indianews/NewDelhi/Delhicopsgoshoppingfornastyitchytea
rgas/Article1980385.aspx.
Hills,Suzannah."JudgeBarsDelhiGangRapeDefendantsfromChaotic
Courtroomafter150PeopleCramintoSpaceMeantfor30."MailOnline.
January07,2013.AccessedSeptember04,2016.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article2258306/DelhigangrapeFive
menchargedJyotiSinghPandeymurderappearcourt.html.
Kaul,Vivek."ShindespeakShowsAllThatIsWrongwithGovernment
Firstpost."Firstpost.December24,2012.AccessedSeptember05,2016.
http://www.firstpost.com/india/shindespeakshowsallthatiswrongwi
thgovernment567536.html.
Khazan,Olga,andRamaLakshmi."10ReasonsWhyIndiaHasaSexualViolence
Problem."WashingtonPost.December29,2012.AccessedSeptember04,
2016.

14


IndianParliamentarySession2014
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2012/12/29/ind
iarapevictimdiessexualviolenceproble/.
"Section375inTheIndianPenalCode."Section375inTheIndianPenalCode.
AccessedSeptember04,2016.https://indiankanoon.org/doc/623254/.
Sikdar,Shubhomoy."DelhiGangrape:VictimNarratestheTaleofHorror."The
Hindu.December22,2012.AccessedSeptember05,2016.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/delhigangrapevictimnarrates
thetaleofhorror/article4230038.ece.
Staff,News18."GovernmentWaging'war'againstPeople:Kejriwal."News18.
December23,2012.AccessedSeptember05,2016.
http://www.news18.com/news/politics/governmentwagingwaragainst
peoplekejriwal528150.html.

15

We appreciate your feedback about our conference. Please

direct all inquiries and comments to our Secretary-General.
Gary DePalo
Secretary-General
vamun.sg@gmail.com
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