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When
Mother's Away
In a shocking revelation,
Lawyers for Human Rights Development (LHRD), an NGO, disclosed recently
that a study it conducted had found that the number of girl children raped
had more than doubled between 1997 (308 cases) and 2000 (668).
When the Sri Lankan government opened a counselling centre at the Ministry
of Women Affairs a short while ago to help child rape and incest victims
and their families, it was an acknowledgement of a grave situation.
Sadly, the LHRD report claimed that girls were raped by their own fathers,
stepfathers, elder brothers, uncles and even grandfathers. This is when
both rape and incest were declared as criminal offences with maximum
punishment in 1995. Both crimes get a 10-year jail term. However, the
study revealed that even the threat of a long jail sentence did not
prevent sexual violence against girls.
Several studies have noted that a major reason for the sharp increase in
such cases is the migration of Lankan mothers abroad. They remain out of
the country for long periods, working as domestic help or labor. In the
last decade, Lankan women have travelled to several South West Asian
countries like Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Yemen as maids, etc.
Says K Tiranagama, director of LHRD, "There were 18 cases of fathers
raping their own daughters. In 15 such cases, the mothers were in South
West Asia. In one case, where the mother was away, brothers (aged 15 and
19) raped their younger sister."
Lalitha left her three young children in the care of her aged mother and
husband when she left for Kuwait to work as a maid. She sent money
regularly for the family, most of which the husband spent on drink. Her
mother had practically no control over the house nor could she play a role
in looking after the children. One day, Lalitha's sister wrote that her
husband had raped their 11-year-old daughter. Her sister was not sure for
how long Lalitha's daughter had been a victim of sexual abuse by her
father. Lalitha rushed home to a shattered daughter.
Maureen Seneviratne, chairperson of Protecting Environment and Children
Everywhere (PEACE) found a high rate of child abuse in the dry zone
district of Polonnaruwa, an area dominated by Tamils. However, studies
claim that the high rate of child rape and incest is not confined to any
particular ethnic group.
The Lankan media has exposed many such cases where victims have been as
young as five years. Some explain the incidents as a direct impact of the
obscene films and entertainment programs screened in remote villages.
However, several articles mention the long absence of the mother or her
inability to provide a secure environment to the girl child.
According to members of the NGO, Worldvision, the number of cases could be
higher. Incest and rape cases are often not reported to protect the family
honor. Women file most cases when they return home from abroad. In several
cases, it is too late by the time the mother finds out: The daughter has
grown up or the husband has died or run away.
LHRD adds that in most Lankan homes, there is a lack of love and
communication between parents and children. In its research in five
districts, LHRD found a four-month-old incest victim and perpetrators in a
wide age group of 18 to 70 years.
Organizations like LHRD are now working towards increasing the punishment
for rape and re-formulating the definition of rape. It is also working
with schools in creating awareness among young girls. Other NGOs like the
Child Rights Group, Sarvodaya and UK's Save the Children Fund are also
involved in rehabilitating the victims.
– Vijita Fernando
May 4, 2003
By arrangement with
Womens Feature Service
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