According to National Crime Records Bureau of India, 24,923 rape cases were reported across India in 2012, while the 5 year average over 2007-2011 was 22,000 rapes a year.[3] Adjusted for population growth over time, the annual rape rate in India has increased from 1.9 to 2.0 per 100,000 people over 2008-2012 period. This compares to a reported rape rate of 1.2 per 100,000 in Japan, 3.6 per 100,000 in Morocco, 4.6 rapes per 100,000 in Bahrain, 12.3 per 100,000 in Mexico, 24.1 per 100,000 in United Kingdom, 28.6 per 100,000 in United States, 66.5 per 100,000 inSweden, and world's highest rate of 114.9 rapes per 100,000 in South Africa.[20][6]
Total reported number of rape crimes in 2012 were highest in Madhya Pradesh, followed by Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.[3] Among major cities, Delhi reported the highest number of rapes in 2012, followed by Mumbai.
Adjusted for population, the rape rate per 100,000 people was highest in Mizoram (10.4), followed by Tripura, Meghalaya,Sikkim and Assam. Among major cities, Delhi's rape rate of 4.1 per 100,000 people was highest in India.[3] The rape rate per 100,000 people was lowest in Gujarat (0.98), followed by Bihar, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
The highest number of victims, and majority of victims, were in the 18-30 year age group.[3] Overall 96% of the rape cases led to charges and the offender being prosecuted.[21] In 2012, out of 1,01,041 cases before Courts, 3563 convictions took place in comparison to 11,154 acquittals and 292 cases withdrawn. This means that there is around 23% conviction rate only in 2012 The high acquittal rate (77%) may be due to cases being filed falsely (for property disputes/ money extortion) or due to poor probe by the police.[22] Indian courts completed the trial process of an estimated of 14,717 rape cases in 2012, while many cases remained pending in its trial process.
Rape of minors[edit]
Rape of minor, that is someone below the age of consent, is a form of statutory rape. Nearly 1 in 3 rape victims are below 18 years in India. Of all rapes, 12.5% of total or 3,125 rape victims in India were a minor.[2][23] For a comparative perspective, 17.4% of total or 15,700 rape victims were a minor in the United States.[24][25]
Using a small sample survey, Human Rights Watch projects more than 7,200 minors – 1.6 in 100,000 minors – are raped each year in India. Among these, victims who do report the assaults are alleged to suffer mistreatment and humiliation from the police.[26] Minor girls are trafficked into prostitution in India, thus rape of minors conflates into lifetime of suffering.[27] Of the countries studied by Maplecroft on sex trafficking and crime against minors, India was ranked 7th worst, between China (1st), Russia (11th) and Indonesia (14th).[27]
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