The sexist comment of the Prime Minister of Pakistan 0:51
(CNN) -
Sex offenders convicted of multiple rapes could face chemical castration in Pakistan after lawmakers passed new anti-rape legislation on Wednesday that aims to speed up sentences and impose tougher penalties.
The bill responds to a massive public outcry over the recent increase in violations against women and children in the country, and to growing demands for justice for victims of sexual assault.
The bill calls for the Pakistani government to create special courts across the country to expedite rape trials and ensure that sexual abuse cases are resolved "quickly, preferably within four months."
Those convicted of gang rape will be sentenced to death or life imprisonment.
Chemical castration is the use of drugs to reduce libido or sexual activity.
It is a legal form of punishment in countries such as South Korea, Poland, the Czech Republic and in some states of the United States.
Amnesty International said the chemical castration penalty was "cruel and inhuman" in a statement last December when the bill was announced.
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"Rather than trying to divert attention, the authorities should focus on the crucial work of reforms that will address the root causes of sexual violence and give survivors the justice they deserve," Amnesty said.
Less than 3% of sexual assault or rape cases end in conviction in Pakistan, Reuters reported last December, citing the Karachi-based non-profit War Against Rape.
In a landmark ruling in January, virginity testing was banned for survivors of sexual assault in Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province.
So-called virginity tests, which include inspection of the hymen or inserting two fingers into the vagina, are invasive examinations that are performed under the belief that they can determine whether a woman is a virgin.
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