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This case brought up the debate of updating France's rape law which currently doesn't mention that sex should involve consent.

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Kolkata, formerly Calcutta, is where Tagore is originally from.

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Domestic Abuse Murder in Kolkata, India, May 2024

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Domestic Abuse Murder in Kolkata, India, May 2024

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"Kolkata was shaken by yet another case of domestic abuse leading to murder a few days back when a 22-year-old woman was repeatedly stabbed by her estranged husband, first inside a café in the Beck Bagan area of Kolkata, and then again on the road outside, forcing her to flee while screaming for help. According to reports, locals apprehended the assailant and handed him over to the police. The woman was taken to SSKM Hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival. The 29-year-old husband had previously been arrested on charges of domestic abuse filed by his wife and was later released on bond."

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Breaking silence: Confronting the hidden epidemic of domestic violence - The Statesman

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Kolkata was shaken by yet another case of domestic abuse leading to murder a few days back when a 22-year-old woman was repeatedly stabbed by her estranged husband, first inside a café in the Beck Bagan area of Kolkata, and then again on the road outside, forcing her to flee while screaming for help.

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"In India, girls are valued less than boys..."

Punishment quote:

"Thakur, if I lose my wife I can get another, but if my brother is hanged, how can I replace him?"

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Violence Against Women in India: Three Things to Know

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Dominique Pelicot, Giselle Pelicot's now ex husband, received the maximum prison sentence for rape in France which is 20 years.

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Punishment by Rabindranath Tagore:  Domestic Violence Against Women

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Punishment by Rabindranath Tagore:  Domestic Violence Against Women

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Gender Roles:

Men are dominant and in control, women are expected to obey and be submissive under their manipulation.

Chandara is a young girl who has been taken advantage of due to her gender and being in a role that is easily replaceable to her husband, Chidam.

Radha, the elder wife, is killed by her husband Dukhiram in a heated rage when she gives him attitude expressing her frustration back at him.

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Sexual Assault Case in France, December 2024

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Sexual Assault Case in France, December 2024

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"But most rapes are committed by boyfriends, husbands and acquaintances, she says, and mostly go unpunished and unreported. Author Palain says the patriarchy is alive and well in France."

"Take the idea that the man is head of the household. That was struck from French law in the '70s, but many men still think they have life and death rights over their wives and children. We saw it in the trial. Their defense was, I didn't rape her. I was given authorization by her husband."

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The verdict in a mass rape trial taking place in southern France is expected by the end of the week. Fifty men are charged with the rape and sexual abuse of a woman who was drugged by her husband.

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

This next story discusses sexual assault. Come back in about four minutes if you'd like to miss it. The verdict in a mass rape trial taking place in southern France is expected by the end of the week. Fifty men are charged with the rape and sexual abuse of a woman who was drugged unconscious by her husband. The public trial, now in its fourth month, has shocked France and drawn media from around the world. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley tells us more.

(APPLAUSE)

ELEANOR BEARDSLEY, BYLINE: Gisele Pelicot and her lawyer emerged from the courtroom on the last day of the trial Monday. In what has become a ritual, she waded into the adoring crowd of mostly women gathered to support her. The petite septigenarian may have begun the trial in September as a victim, but she's become a hero. By refusing to let her trial take place behind closed doors, Pelicot has become a symbol of resilience and courage.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: (Speaking French).

BEARDSLEY: "Stay strong, Madame Pelicot," says one woman, hugging her and handing her flowers. Supporter Chantal Cremont says Pelicot is fighting for all women.

CHANTAL CREMONT: (Through interpreter) She gave us an important gift by demanding that this trial be open for the world to see. So we have to be here to support her.

BEARDSLEY: The 15-week trial laid bare the depravity and sordid details of the 10-year period when husband Dominic Pelicot recruited men on an internet site to come rape his drugged, unconscious wife. He directed the participants and filmed it all. The thousands of hours of neatly cataloged and titled video on his computer is how he was caught. The men who participated range in age from their mid-20s to their 60s. They're Black and white, pony-tailed and balding, a sort of French working-class everyman. Mathieu Palain is the author of several books on male violence.

MATHIEU PALAIN: (Through interpreter) This frightening trial shows us that these men are not depraved criminals but actually regular guys who have wives and kids and jobs - a baker, a firefighter. They're our brothers, our fathers. And that's shocking. It would be easier to say these violent men have nothing to do with us.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

KARIM RISSOULI: (Speaking French).

BEARDSLEY: Many French men, like prominent TV talk show host Karim Rissouli, speaking here, have expressed shame. He said French masculinity was on trial, while others reject any notions of collective guilt. The hashtag #NotAllMen has also gained prominence. That worries journalist Victoire Tuaillon, who hosts a podcast that explores male violence.

VICTOIRE TUAILLON: Most think that these men are kind of monsters, totally different from them, you know? They think that, you know, the case doesn't really concern them because they think that, I would never do that.

BEARDSLEY: But most rapes are committed by boyfriends, husbands and acquaintances, she says, and mostly go unpunished and unreported. Author Palain says the patriarchy is alive and well in France.

PALAIN: (Through interpreter) Take the idea that the man is head of the household. That was struck from French law in the '70s, but many men still think they have life and death rights over their wives and children. We saw it in the trial. Their defense was, I didn't rape her. I was given authorization by her husband.

BEARDSLEY: The victim's husband, Dominic Pelicot, admitted to the charges of rape, but many of the accused did not, despite the fact that videos of their acts were shown on large screens in the courtroom. One commented that if he wanted to rape, he would've chosen someone beautiful. Many of the accused said they had been victims of abuse themselves as children. But in 10 years, not one went to the police. The five judges will announce the verdict Thursday morning. The men risk 20 years in prison, the maximum sentence for rape in France. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Avignon.

(SOUNDBITE OF MNELIA SONG, "CLOSURE")

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A mass rape trial in France has changed the conversation about sexual assault

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The verdict in a mass rape trial taking place in southern France is expected by the end of the week. Fifty men are charged with the rape and sexual abuse of a woman who was drugged by her husband.

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"Globally, almost one in three women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their life. This violence is often perpetrated by current or former intimate partners."

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Global database on Violence against Women

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A one-stop source on the measures governments are taking to build a world free from violence against women and girls

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A study done in India, on about 10000 women, 26 per cent reported having experienced physical violence from spouses during their lifetime.

The National Crime Records Bureau show that a crime was recorded against women every three minutes.

Every hour, at least two women are sexually assaulted and every six hours, a young married woman is beaten to death, burnt or driven to suicide.

28.4 per cent of pregnant women suffer domestic violence.

As a result of violence, women suffer social isolation, unemployment, income loss, poor self-care and fail to provide childcare.

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Violence against women in India: Comprehensive care for survivors

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What do stories like Punishment teach us about gender role beliefs across cultures?

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"Chidam asked Chandara to take the blame on to herself. She was dumbfounded. He reassured her: "Don't worry - if you do what I tell you, you'll be quite safe." But whatever his words, his throat was dry and his face was pale."

Chidam himself definitely had doubt in his promise and probably felt a certain fear. Though it can be inferred that this fear fell more in the concern that his brother would end up being found guilty because he didn't seem to have any fear over losing his own wife.

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"I shall give my youth to the gallows instead of to you. My final ties in this life will be with them."

Chandara's escape from her husband's control lies within her death sentence for the murder she's taken the fault for. It's interesting for her to end up in this position because she's essentially finally gaining her freedom, but losing her entire life altogether at the same time. What does this say about how the dehumanization of women impacts them? They'd rather choose death over life because death in this case means freedom.

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Each year, approximately 500,000 women are victims of domestic violence, and those are only the reported statistics that don't included those who have been silenced or afraid to speak up.

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These news stories are only from last year, making them recent and very frightening examples of some of the ongoing violence and manipulation of women by their partners.