ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s lawmakers have politicized the problems of rape and violence with out addressing the elephant within the room, Jeevan Thondaman, Minister of Water Provide and Actual Property Infrastructure Growth, stated in Parliament on Monday (4).
“All members listed here are speaking about rape. What occurs subsequent? We have to speak about abortion rights. That is not one thing anybody desires to debate, and that is why we’re on this place proper now,” Thondaman stated.
“Regardless of alarming statistics on rape and violence, ladies are sometimes blamed and punished. The criminalization of abortion is a vital instance of this.”
Sri Lanka has a number of the most restrictive abortion legal guidelines on the planet. In line with a 2016 estimate from the Ministry of Well being, there are roughly 658 abortions per day, and virtually 250,000 per yr.
“That is 250,000 ladies whose lives you might be placing in danger.”
He added that what was wanted presently was complete intercourse training (CSE) for kids and younger individuals.
“Solely by means of CSE in faculties will kids and younger individuals develop correct, age-appropriate data attitudes and expertise; constructive values equivalent to respect for human rights, gender equality, range and attitudes and expertise that contribute to a secure, wholesome and constructive relationship.”
Thondaman identified that CSE performs an important function in making ready younger individuals for a world the place HIV, AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, unintended pregnancies and sexual and gender-based violence proceed to pose a threat to their well-being.
“CSE truly permits kids to take management and make knowledgeable selections with freedom and accountability.”
Thondaman additionally highlighted the findings of a 2021 examine (Fatalities_20211109_UNFPA) by UNFPA and the College of Kelaniya, which discovered {that a} majority of girls murdered in Sri Lanka have been murdered by these near them.
“62 p.c of murders of Sri Lankan ladies are dedicated by an intimate accomplice, ex-partner or member of the family. 84 p.c are murdered in their very own house by somebody they know.”
The police and judiciary have failed the ladies in Sri Lanka, the minister famous.
“Solely 5 p.c of those circumstances, between 2013 and 2017, have been ever accomplished. Males claiming they have been provoked, mentally disturbed or have a psychological sickness: these have been profitable defenses. And the police typically specific sympathy for this story, in contrast to that of the sufferer.”
“Now we have a historical past of defending oppressors.”
It takes seven to 10 years for a kid rape case to be concluded, he identified.
The institution of juvenile courts is required, he stated, as are a number of adjustments within the regulation. “The federal government is engaged on a brand new regulation to reform the regulation on home violence and reform the wedding and divorce legal guidelines to make sure there may be a better path to divorce: nobody must be pressured to stay in a wedding that’s abusive or will not be wholesome. ” (Colombo/December 4, 2023)
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