×

Our award-winning reporting has moved

Context provides news and analysis on three of the world’s most critical issues:

climate change, the impact of technology on society, and inclusive economies.

India approves death penalty for child rapists

by Reuters
Saturday, 21 April 2018 10:14 GMT

People hold candles and placards during a protest against the rape of an eight-year-old girl, in Kathua, near Jammu, a teenager in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, and an eleven-year-old girl in Surat, Gujarat, in Ahmedabad, Indiia, April 16, 2018. REUTERS/Amit Dave

Image Caption and Rights Information

Sexual violence against women is a highly charged political issue in India

MUMBAI, April 21 (Reuters) - India's cabinet on Saturday approved the death penalty for those convicted of raping girls below the age of 12 years amid outrage in the country after a string of horrific cases of sexual violence.

In the emergency meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the cabinet passed an executive order, or ordinance, to amend the criminal law to also include more drastic punishment for convicted rapists of girls below the age of 16 years.

Sexual violence against women is a highly charged political issue in India, where protests regularly erupt about entrenched violence against women and the failure to protect them.

Many people have criticised Modi's government for not doing enough to protect the country's women, piling pressure on his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as India heads towards a general election due next year.

(Reporting by C. K. Nayak and Abhirup Roy Editing by Shri Navaratnam)

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

-->