PANJIM: Goa has gained a dubious distinction of having the highest rate of rape cases against minors in 2022
According to data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), as many as 73 rape cases were reported in the state in 2022, of which 57 victims were minor girls.
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Rapes of minor girls constitute 76 per cent of total rape cases reported in the state in 2022.
While the number of rape cases reported in the state were 73, number of victims in those cases were 75.
Of the 57 minor victims of rape cases registered under Section 376 of IPC in Goa, two are below six years of age, 12 between 6 to 12 years, 26 between 12 to 16 years and 17 between 16 to 18 years of age. In 93.2 per cent of the total rape cases, the accused was known to the victim. Even nine of the accused were family members.
Shockingly there has also been a steady rise in crime against women. As per the data, the State registered 273 cases of crimes against women in 2022, 224 cases in 2021 and 219 cases in 2020.
Reacting to the report, NGO Bailancho Saad convenor Sabina Martins said, “The fact that rape is taking place means that mindset and the exploitative nature of men has not changed. From our experience, we know that rape of minors gets reported easily because the stigma factor, which prevents adults from reporting, is not there.”
“That is why there is more reporting when it comes to children. However, social institutions and governments have not been able to protect children. This is the sad reality. It also indicates that the prevention mechanism has failed,” Martins said.
ARZ (Anyay Rahit Zindagi) Founding Member, Arun Pandey said, “It is difficult to say whether the number of incidents has increased or decreased because after legislation of The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, registration of cases has become mandatory on the part of the police.”
“We are also finding that since there have been amendments in the IPC, there are many incidents of offences by those in the age group between 16 and 18 which is the adolescent age. Certain acts by these age groups have been defined as an offence under POCSO and this has also been the cause of an increase in reporting. What we also find from our work is that exposure to online sexual activity has contributed to an increase in child sexual abuse,” Pandey said.
