The Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR) has strongly criticised the justice system following the death of a young Kuki woman who survived sexual violence for more than two years without receiving justice. The organisation said the case reflects a deep failure of the institutions meant to protect women and uphold the rule of law. In a press statement issued from Kangpokpi district, KWOHR described the incident as a “grave miscarriage of justice.” The organisation said the woman was only 18 years old when she was subjected to brutal sexual violence. According to KWOHR, this stage of her life should have been one of safety, dignity, and opportunity. Instead, she spent her final years battling trauma, pain, and neglect.
The survivor reportedly endured severe physical and mental suffering for over two years before she died on January 10, 2026. KWOHR said her survival during this period did not reflect the strength of the system, but rather her own courage and resilience in the face of abandonment. The organisation noted that despite the seriousness of the crime, her case remained unresolved until her death. KWOHR also rejected social narratives that view rape through the ideas of honour or personal shame. In its statement, the group stressed that sexual violence is not about morality or impulse, but about power and domination. It called for a change in how society and authorities understand and respond to such crimes, saying that failure to do so only normalises violence against women.
Beyond condemning the alleged perpetrators, the organisation raised serious concerns about wider accountability. It questioned the role of those who allegedly facilitated the survivor’s handover to her attackers and criticised what it described as silence and inaction from the justice delivery system. KWOHR said the lack of timely legal action showed how easily the lives of vulnerable women are ignored.“Where is the State? Where are the courts? Where is the rule of law?” the organisation asked in its statement. It said the survivor’s life appeared to have been treated as disposable, reflecting a broader institutional apathy towards crimes of sexual violence. KWOHR warned that such failures deepen public anger and mistrust in the system. It urged people to turn their grief and outrage into sustained efforts to challenge violence and impunity. The organisation said the woman’s death should not become just another statistic, but a reminder of the urgent need for accountability and reform.
