Constitutionality and Legality of Marital Rape in Pakistan
Keywords:
Marital Rape, Section 375, PPC, Fundamental Rights, Sexual Abuse, Intercourse, ViolenceAbstract
“Marital Rape”, a phrase laden with numerous stigmas, becomes even more complex when attempting to contextualise it within the societal framework of Pakistan. Society has granted husbands unrestricted control while relegating the wives to a state of submission, culminating in a scenario where the choices of a woman are severely neglected. The lack of recognition of marital rape as a real issue is intricately linked to the prevailing conservative mindset within society. This research paper discusses the constitutional rights of women and addresses why the recognition and express legislation on marital rape is pertinent in current circumstances. This paper addresses multiple challenges faced by women in Pakistan bound in marital relationships and discusses the trauma suffered by women who are subjected to marital rape. Through a meticulous legal discourse, the objective is to construct a cogent argument encompassing both constitutional and legal dimensions of marital rape. Central to this paper is advocating for the introduction of a dedicated legal provision that unequivocally acknowledges marital rape as a distinct and punishable offence.
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