|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 7 March 2004 |
 |
|
 |
News |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Tomorrow is International Women's Day : A better world for the fair sex by Shanika Sriyananda Sri Lankan women activists will join the activists around the globe tomorrow to celebrate yet another 'International Women's Day'. The stage is set for grand celebrations and a series of colourful events, that depict women's dilemma, are on the card. Tomorrow, the Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) together with the state own organisations working towards a 'better world, with equal rights, for women ' will boast their 'achievements' in the new millennium. The main ceremony of the day is schedule to be held at the Elphinston under the patronage of Minister of Women's Affairs. The Lipton circle or the Fort Railway Station will be the venue for other demonstrations by women voicing strongly against various injustices ranging from discrimination to rape. But, going through the records about increasing number of women subjected to grave crimes and other criminal offenses, can the country ponder over so-called achievements by the women folk in the new millennium. It is a shock to hear that over 576 Sri Lankan women and 124 girls below 18-years-old had been murdered during the past four years, beginning from the new millennium upto end of the year 2003. Over 1,457 women had been raped during the same period and the total number of girls that had been raped amounts 2,233. During the past four years over 6,264 women have been subjected to grave crimes including murder, attempted murder, rape, un-natural and grave sexual abuses, serious sexual abuses, abduction kidnapping and incest. The total number of women, who were victims of minor offenses such as sexual abuse, death threats, assaults were over 10,241. The Police Children and Women's Bureau have identified Mount Lavinia, Chilaw and Nugegoda areas as the most 'dangerous zones' for women in the island as a high percentage of murder, rape, causing grievous hurts, abduction and kidnapping of women and girls are reported from these police divisions. The highest number of rape cases (409) were reported last year compared to years 2001 and 2003. Majority of women, who had been raped are from Anuradhapura, Chilaw, Tangalle and Ratnapura. According to Police Children and Women's Bureau, of the total number of grave crimes against women, the majority of cases during the past four years were causing grievous hurts. The total number of women, who had been severely hurt were over 2,582 and they are mainly from Vavuniya, Chilaw, Mount Lavinia, Colombo, Ratnapura and Kegalle police divisions. Women, over 18-years-old, who had been sexually abused in the past four years are over 3,062 and they were mainly from Ratnapura, Galle, Kandy, Colombo, Ampara police divisions. However, the highest number of sexual abuse cases reported last year (1,006). According to data, not only elder women's lives but also teenage girls lives are at risk. They out numbered the women, who had been raped during the past three years. The total number of girls, under 18-years-old, who had been raped in the years 2001, 2002 and 2003 were over 2,233 and girls that had been sexually abused were 1,440. Nearly 4,464 young girls had become victims of grave crimes while 2,076 girls became victims of minor offenses. "We cannot say about an increase in crimes against women and the incidence may be equal to previous years", said Soma Kumarasinghe, Officer In-Charge of the Bureau. She thanked the Media for educating rural as well as urban women on how to complaint. "Compared to women in early years, most of women are well aware about their rights and what action they should do when something wrong happened to them", she said. According to her, the Bureau has filed plaints against 2,808 persons in respect of grave crimes including causing serious hurt, rape and murder. Number of persons brought before the court for murdering girls were 330 and for rape 735 persons in the years of 2000, 2001 and 2002. The total number of court cases filled for minor offences against girls were 6,036. However, the Bureau officials stressed the need of more awareness programs for Sri Lankan women and girl children on their rights, existing law, crimes against them and where and how to lodge their complaints. "The amendments to the Penal Code No 22 of 1995 protects women from verbal abuse", said S.I. Manoj of the Bureau. But he claimed that majority of women were not aware of this legal benefit. "If the victims can prove that she has been subjected to verbal abuse the offender will be given five year imprisonment or a fine claimed by the judge", he said. According to him a major setback in bringing the offenders to the book is the reluctancy of women to lodge a complaint at the Police and the misconception about the Police. " Majority of victims think that lodging complaints with the Police 'is a waste of their time'. They think that the Police do not take action against the offender. Really it is a misconception. We investigate each and every complaint that is directed to the Bureau or the Children and Women units at each police station", he said. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
