75 percent sexually abused girls are minors

HYDERABAD: It is now official that in the state, as many as 1,915 cases of atrocities against women have been registered, from 2007, till date. Of these, in 75 percent of the cases, the victims were minors.In these cases, 3,943 traffickers and other perpetrators were arrested. A total of 165 traffickers in 27 cases were given rigorous imprisonment, ranging from 5 to 14 years. This is according to records of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU). The offences include dowry killings, gang or individual rapes, physical assaults and workplace sexual harassment. The AHTU coordinates with intra and inter-state operations to bring traffickers to justice, rescue victims and take-up measures for their rehabilitation, in consultation with department of women development and child welfare. The department provides rehabilitation and compensation to victims. According to the department records in the last five years, 260 women (half of the victims were below 18 years) who were raped by individuals or gangs were given compensation.All cases have been registered in police stations across the state. “In a recent survey by the department, it is found that 80 percent of the cases of violence against women had not been registered,” said an assistant director of the department. All victims have been provided counselling, protection, residence, compensation, following orders from the magistrate, she informed. Organisations for women empowerment, say even in the 21st century, a woman lives in a feudalistic society dominated by males. A woman does not have freedom of expression. G Jhansi, state general secretary, progressive organisation for women, said that they have been advising the state government to emphasise gender sensitisation of all police personnel, minimise delay in the investigation process, improve quality of investigation and set-up women education centres in every mandal, but sadly enough there has been no response from the government. Prof Shantha Sinha, chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, says, “There are already stringent laws and Acts against abuse of minor girls”. The ‘Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Bill’ and other laws and Acts should ensure that cases of atrocities against women should be investigated thoroughly and perpetrators brought to book.