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 Improvement, mentioned 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 get into, and that is why we’re on this place proper now,” Thondaman mentioned.
“Regardless of alarming statistics on rape and violence, girls 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 this planet. In response to a 2016 estimate from the Ministry of Well being, there are roughly 658 abortions per day, and virtually 250,000 per 12 months.
“That is 250,000 girls whose lives you’re placing in danger.”
He added that what was wanted at the moment was complete intercourse training (CSE) for kids and younger folks.
“Solely via CSE in faculties will youngsters and younger folks develop correct, age-appropriate data attitudes and expertise; constructive values comparable 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 a vital position in making ready younger folks for a world the place HIV, AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, unintended pregnancies and sexual and gender-based violence proceed to pose a danger to their well-being.
“CSE truly permits youngsters to take management and make knowledgeable selections with freedom and duty.”
Thondaman additionally highlighted the findings of a 2021 research (Fatalities_20211109_UNFPA) by UNFPA and the College of Kelaniya, which discovered {that a} majority of girls murdered in Sri Lanka had been murdered by these near them.
“62 p.c of murders of Sri Lankan girls are dedicated by an intimate accomplice, ex-partner or member of the family. 84 p.c are murdered in their very own dwelling by somebody they know.”
The police and judiciary have failed the ladies in Sri Lanka, the minister famous.
“Solely 5 p.c of those instances, between 2013 and 2017, had been ever accomplished. Males claiming they had 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.”
“We’ve got 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 mentioned, as are a number of adjustments within the legislation. “The federal government is engaged on a brand new legislation to reform the legislation on home violence and reform the wedding and divorce legal guidelines to make sure there’s a neater path to divorce: nobody needs to be pressured to stay in a wedding that’s both abusive is, or will not be wholesome. ” (Colombo/December 4, 2023)
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