A 16-year-old girl in Bangladesh was raped 8 months ago. The rapist received no punishment, but the Bangladesh Daily Star is reporting that the girl was given 101 lashes as punishment for the fact that she'd become pregnant during the assault.
The elders in the village also fined the girl's father, claiming that their family would be forced in to isolation if he didn't pay. According to media reports, the girl did not issue a complaint after the rape because she was so embarrassed. She was married very soon after the attack, but was divorced when her husband found out about the pregnancy.
Stories like this are reminders that the world has a long way to go when respecting the rights of women. We've also got work to do when protecting young women from sexual abuse. In many parts of the world, including Africa, South America and the United States, rape victims are afraid to report the crimes committed against them or simply choose not to do so. What's worse is that there may be shame attached to the crime, thrust on by a society that may not show proper empathy for the suffering of the victim.
According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, more than 600 women are sexually assaulted every day in the United States. So, although we don't have the same problems as people in Bangladesh, we've got a great deal to learn ourselves.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
Comments: (10)
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By: Brown Sugah Baby on 1/28/2010 1:40PM
How could they justify the physical punishment of a teenager who had been raped, as if she hadn't suffered enough already? This type of blatent ignorance and abuse just makes me livid! As infuriating as it is (so much where I'd like to scream!!!), I understand this is in another country and laws and government are different - but, it ultimately leads to the inhumane treatment of another human being. A female - one whom the Lord deemed the vessel to be used to bring life into the world, no less.
If its true that ignorance is bliss, these people must be hysterically giddy right about now.
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By: sherridina on 2/01/2010 1:55PM
Let's sanction this country.
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By: paul on 1/28/2010 5:49PM
Religion of peace my butt. This is all according to the Islamic laws and teachings. I'm sure all the hardcore Muslims out there don't see anything wrong with this. Her family will probably have her killed to avoid the embarrassment of living with her.
Freedom of religion in America is fine, but when a religion demands the denial of basic human rights and the killing of other religions' followers, there is no room for it here or anywhere.
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By: ees.... on 1/28/2010 7:52PM
and white folks want to give black people a hard time.there are very strange thing going on in this world that don't come close to bl people.A-yuh!!!!
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By: pattie on 1/28/2010 7:58PM
these people and their ungodly religions,just makes GOD wonder why he allowed ANY to live.people are just plan dumb from a-z,that would be the world.nothing better to do than to make another's life miserable..how so very sick.
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By: Louis on 2/01/2010 1:11PM
Dr Boyce,
your gutless,poliitically correct article did not mention the root cause of this barbarity....Islam. Coward
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By: Ms Fran on 2/01/2010 10:36PM
WOW! Just WOW!
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By: Sue on 2/02/2010 4:44AM
Hmmmmmmmmmm I bet the threat of receiving a 101 lashes would definetly curb teen pregnancy right here in America. (just a mindless thought) Getting back to this young teenager that was rapoed then beaten because she got pregnant from the guy wo raped her.
Just give me a minute to think and comprehend the Ignorance and the lack of Empathy that this country has for its women. This article makes me livid. How Dare these asses (who are ALL men) do such a horrible thing to a victim of rape.
I realize the trgedy in Haiti has nothing to do with this particular article BUT if the USA would give equal amount of press coverage to the atrocities that occur against women in other countries this sought of thing would cease to exist.
The USA is always eager to run to he aide of another country when there are tragic events such as war, hurricanes, earthquakes etc. BUT Why wont the USA intervene when a womans Human Rights are clearly violated and trampled?
This is the year 2010 we are in a new century and decade WHY are these (back world) countries still allowed to ABUSE human beings?
This teenage girl is a "Victim" of a mans ego his penis. YES I said that because I mean what I say. Instead of giving this girl 101 lashes because some piece of crap decided to rape her they should prosecute the man who raped this teenage girl. His punishment should be to cut off his penis, give him 101 lashes and then throw his sorry ass in jail and throw away the key.
Now in the mean time because we can not change this countries laws what can the USA do right here, right now to show this country that abusing wome or any human being is wil NOT be tolerated regardless of what country you live in.
If the USA imports any type of goods/merchanise etc from this country the immediate solution would be to Boycott Banglehdesh or any other country that outright abuses it's citizens. The more countries that choose to boycott ill mannerd countries the less likely we'd have to hear/read about man made atrocities such as this case.
As a physically disabled survivor of sexual/physical abuse after reading this article I am truly discusted. Ok it's good to put this article online for everyone to read BUT just like the USA is helping victims of Haiti recover from that tragic earthquake. What is the USA doing or what can WE do to stop this type of abuse from happening to another victim of rape?
It's ok to put this article out here for us to read BUT what can we do to STOP this from happening again?
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By: Sue on 2/02/2010 4:59AM
Dr. Boyce this is an interesting article. It clearly shows how stupid and barbaric man is in the 21st century. My question to you is what was the purpose of putting this article online without at least giving your readers an idea on what they might be able to do to posibly prevent this from happening again. You left your readers angry (aty the article) and dangling not knowing how we might be able to help. That is unfair..... The reason I take this article to heart because I am physically disabled and I am a survivor of childhood sexual, physical, verbal and emotional abuse. This article would strike a raw nerve with many women who have been physically, sexually abused.
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By: JC on 2/02/2010 8:54PM
First,I thank God for all the american women past & present that fought for their daughters/grand daughters (females) & for future generations of women to have rights/enjoy choices. For example,black women in the black panthers,women in the civil rights,women voting & equal rights movements,etc. Second,as american women we do our best to help or offer advice to women of other countries still stuffering at the hands of man's barbaric rituals of female abuse. BUT,try as we might---we will effect little,because the mothers, aunts,grandmothers,etc. of that country NEED to stand up for THEIR daughters,granddaughters & future generations of females/women to have rights or enjoy choices. Women in these countries have traditional sided with men or did little/nothing to ease suffering/pain fellow females go through. Mothers do not teach their sons kindness or understanding towards their daughters,sisters or wives---female ritual kiillings/rapes are common. In some cases a mother will help hold down her daughter so the father,her son or an uncle can kill her. The men claim the ritual killings of females is a form of male defense. Defense against what? Expressing female independent thought,her saying no to an arranged marriage,saying no to being raped, walking alone without a male or not in a female group,etc.?????? Of course this is BULL. I hope God gives the present females who are standing/speaking up the strength to continue to do so in the face of barbaric males who are their fathers,brothers,husbands,etc. And may God give AMERICAN WOMEN the strength to protect our children,young women & fellow women against the rising tide of abusive (rape,molestation,domestic abuse,abductions,etc.) and barbaric acts commited by AMERICAN MEN. JC.
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