Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus condemns gang rape of 16-year-old girl

14 August 2024 05:56 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 4 Bookmark

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Colombo, August 14 (Daily Mirror)- While condemning the gang-rape of a 16-year-old girl in Thanamalwila, the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus alleged that all responsible authorities of Sri Lanka have failed in their duties.

In a statement the Caucus called on the Bureau for the Prevention of Abuse of Children and Women and the National Child Protection Authority to oversee all involved parties and ensure that the child is treated with dignity, free from further harassment, and that her recovery and redress processes are managed with the
utmost care.

Caucus Chair Dr. Sudarshani Fernanopulle urged the Ministry of Education to implement measures to train teachers nationwide on how to effectively and sensitively handle such cases when they arise, emphasising that the dignity of the child is paramount and must take precedence over the image of the schools.

"We, the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus, condemn the inhumane series of gang-rape the 16 year old girl child of Thanamalwila has endured since 2023. Further the Victim's mother stated that the insensitivity of the Medical Officer who is reported to have verbally and emotionally harassed the victim also. This brutal violation of the affected girl shows how all responsible authorities of Sri Lanka, have failed in their duties. At the very least, in the aftermath of this profound injustice, let us act in a conscientious, responsible and accountable manner," the statement added.

The Caucus said the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health should prioritise promoting moral values, respect for others, and safeguarding schoolchildren from exposure to pornography, drugs, alcohol, and other addictions claiming that these measures are essential in reducing the risk of children engaging in harmful and abusive activities.

It also urged the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Justice to collectively ensure the Medical Officers and other officials involved in examining children who are harassed are trained and sensitized to handle them with compassion and care to avoid any further harassment faced by such children.

Comments - 4

Karalasingam Sivalingam Wednesday, 14 August 2024 07:36 PM

Dr. Fernandopulle's expression, narrations and condemnation by women parliamentarians' caucus is praiseworthy, justice to the minor innocent girl should be meted out without delay, justice delayed is justice denied.

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Shera Thursday, 15 August 2024 04:45 AM

Women in power too have failed the females of Sri Lanka. They have not put pressure on enforcing existing laws and enacting new laws that protect women from abusive relationships and sexual exploitation. If the laws are strict as they should be, the men would not even dare try.

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Roshanaly Thursday, 15 August 2024 09:36 AM

There is nothing to train them, they are not fit to be teachers. If you wanted to train them, then start training the Teachers, Principal, Police officers, Doctors and the staff of the School.

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Karalasingam Sivalingam Friday, 16 August 2024 03:50 PM

What is the safeguard for this rape victim? Get admission to this girl in Visaka Vidayalaya, Colombo, allocate a housing unit of NHDA to victim's family to live in Colombo, their expenses to be borne by all 22 rapists, victim's lover to be married to the victim, when the girl reaches 18 years of age, the new born child to be haned over to an orphanage in Colombo, facilitating the mother/victim to visit the baby daily to breast feed the child, in the meanwhile, judicial procedures to continue.

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