NO matter what the law may be on paper, attitudes to women and their place in society determine the outcome of crimes against them. And Pakistan has a long way to go, even in a cosmopolitan and relatively modern city such as Karachi.

A report by War Against Rape, which was released on Tuesday, indicates the prevalence of endemic institutional apathy towards rape victims in the metropolis which renders their quest for redressal an uphill battle.

The findings reveal a shocking disparity between the number of total medico-legal examinations of sexual assault victims — a vast majority of whom are women and girls — carried out in Karachi and the FIRs filed with the police, which are a prerequisite for legal proceedings.

Between January 2015 and July 2016, despite 516 medico-legal examinations, FIRs were filed in only 122 of those cases, less than 24pc of the total.

Moreover, 70pc of the cases investigated by WAR during this period did not make it to court, mainly because the families chose not to pursue the matter legally or because of ‘external pressure’ on them.

For context, consider this: only about 10pc of sexual assault cases are even reported. The situation, instead of improving, appears to have worsened over the years: in 2005, FIRs were filed in 160 out of 357, or 44pc, medico-legal examinations in Karachi.

Rape is not an easy crime to prosecute successfully, even in many Western countries.

The reasons can range from the circumstances of the case to the victim’s own determination to stand her ground in proceedings where invasion of privacy is a given. However, in countries like Pakistan, those alleging sexual assault have to run a gauntlet of public humiliation that is of another order altogether.

Weak, corrupt institutions and the culture of shame and silence surrounding sexual matters make even reporting rape — the very first hurdle — a daunting challenge.

Unsympathetic police, intrusive questioning of the victim and deliberate delays in filing FIRs compound the victims’ distress.

Moreover, only seven women medico-legal officers, against a sanctioned strength of 27, are appointed in Karachi, which makes for long delays in completion of medical formalities.

Years-long court proceedings, which sometimes feature insensitive judges, and even voyeuristic bystanders, understandably deter victims and their families from pursuing cases to their conclusion.

Moral judgment and bias in dealing with survivors of rape is inexcusable, and the institutions concerned must take note of the report’s findings.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2016