Team Herald
PANJIM: Civil Society organisation and individuals met in Panjim following the increasing violence against women and children, and resolved to demand speedy and sure justice in all cases of sexual violence irrespective of the class, region, socio-economic background of the survivor, or the accused, and demanded implementation of the law laid down in letter and spirit.
The meeting had representatives from the Women’s Movement, Child Rights and Human rights movement.
“We, in one voice strongly condemn the gang rape at Betalbatim and sexual assault of minors prior and post this heinous crime, the most recent being the sexual assault on a minor girl at Calangute by nine tourists from Pune. We firmly stand in solidarity with all the survivors,” said Sabina Martins, after the meeting.
She said that Goa has seen a series of cases of molestation, rape, sex trafficking, murders linked with tourism. “We consider it shameful that 322 rapes were registered in the last four years and the conviction rate in Goa has been as low as 1.86 per cent in the same period. 739 cases of molestation and 198 cases of eve teasing, 275 cases of kidnapping were booked. These statistics point not only to the lack of safety for women but about the half-hearted approach of law enforcement agencies, apathy of the investigation and justice administration towards crimes against women,” she added.
She said that collection of evidence is not consistent. Despite frequent directions by the Supreme Court, with regard to sexual violence, by way of assistance for a survivor such as promptly and safely escorting the victim for medical examination, counseling, representation by a legal aid counsel remains mostly in the legal digests.
“The incapacity of our own laboratories to process all forensic evidence, results in inordinate delay in trial and conviction, which adds to the trauma and disruption of life,” she said.
The meeting resolved to demand a “fully equipped forensic laboratory with new cutting edge and emerging technologies, to provide necessary links and forensic reports for locating apprehending and convicting criminals, effective functional state run One Stop Crisis Centre and Victim Assistance Unit.”
The meeting further demanded that the State carry out mapping of unsafe places in Goa in consultation with women and children and take correctional measures to make it safe. Based on feedback of survivors and people assisting in accessing justice, continuous comprehensive sensitization programs be conducted of all state bodies and remedial action be taken.
