A few days ago, a 14-year-old attempted rape victim from my village had to run away from home to save her honour. She also took her younger sister with her as she couldn’t take the risk of leaving her alone with their father.
Dear Nadine,
A few days ago, a 14-year-old attempted rape victim from my village had to run away from home to save her honour. She also took her younger sister with her as she couldn’t take the risk of leaving her alone with their father. The mother of these girls died 10 years ago and this girl and her sister had since then been living with their father. Their father is into drugs and does not do anything for his daughters. While high on drugs, this beast tried to rape his own daughter! To save her honour, she ran away from the house in the middle of the night and also took her sister with her. Now they are being shuffled from one home to another, as no one is willing to support them fully. The relatives do not want to get involved in this problem. I am really disturbed about their plight, but I do not know how to help them. My family will never ever allow me to get involved in this matter. The girls are too naive and young to go to police or court to seek protection against their father. I just cannot push this problem out of my mind, and my husband is not happy with me because this is affecting my health. The father of these girls ought to be punished, but that can only be done when the village elders are involved. Can you suggest me an NGO which is genuinely working towards such matters? I have to be very careful because I don’t want any bad publicity from the media either for the girls or for my village, which is mostly inhabited by simple, honourable people, and they would be horrified if the name of their village appears on TV in this context. Kindly suggest me something for my peace of mind.
Disturbed Citizen
Dear Disturbed Citizen,
If only there were more conscientious people in the country, countless girls could be saved. It is tragic that the very person who should be protecting the girls has lost all inhibitions, decency and honour. It was a brave move on this young girl’s part to leave home with her sister, but unfortunately her relatives are not helping her. Is it possible for you to have them conveyed to a shelter home? We have found out that there isn’t a single shelter home in the area you mentioned, but there are a couple of darul amans. Here are the contact numbers of two shelter homes closer to the village:
Social Welfare Department, Govt of Punjab: Ph: (042) 99232178-9
Panah: Phone: 021) 36360025, 36360028
E-mail: panahhome@yahoo.com; panahhome@gmail.com
Best of luck!
Problems that need a solution?
You can e mail Prof. Nadine Khan at nadinekhan_34@yahoo.com
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