The brutal rape of a five-year-old girl in Lahore shocked

An Article from the Asian Human Rights Commission

PAKISTAN: Strict yet victim-friendly legal mechanisms are required to minimize 

sexual violence against women and children                                     -Amir Murtaza

The brutal rape of a five-year-old girl in Lahore last week has literally shocked the country, from the officials in the highest office down to the ordinary citizen in the street.

The tragic incident has sparked a nationwide debate and outcry against the lack of a safety mechanism in the country for women and children.

Certainly, women and child molestation cases are nothing exceptional in this part of the world; however, the coverage of the recent rape in Lahore in the electronic media and social networking websites has forced the concerned police officials to take immediate action.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, has also taken notice of this heinous crime and ordered the provincial police officials to submit the case report.

According to reports the five-year-old girl was found unconscious and in critical condition near a crowded hospital in Lahore. Later, a medical examination confirmed that the victim had been raped.

The Punjab provincial law minister, while talking to the reporters stated that, "Those who have done this are not humans but beasts and will be arrested and prosecuted under the law and given exemplary punishments."

One can only hope that police will arrest the culprit or culprits of this heinous crime as soon as possible and that the presiding court of law will award the severest possible punishment to them so that it could serve as an example to other, like-minded perverts. This is desperately required in order to minimize the incidence of sexual violence against women and children.

Violence against women and children is quite common in male dominated South Asian societies, including Pakistani society. The research reports of child-focused NGOs suggest that violence against children has increased significantly although a large number of cases go unreported.

It is also a fact that the majority of violent cases against children are not reported by the parents or other family members for various reasons, including the low rate of convictions against the accused.

For example, in 2002 Mukhtaran Mai was gang raped, allegedly on the orders of a village council in the southern Punjab village of Meerwala. The incident shocked the country and people from all walks of life, notably the media and civil society organizations, supported Mukhtaran Mai in her efforts to obtain justice. However, finding justice for rape victims can be a difficult task in the country. It is shameful that all the accused in Mukhtaran's case were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.

Rape victims are severely stigmatized in Pakistani society and it is extremely difficult for the victim or her family to make a report in a police station and a court of law. In many such cases families try to sweep the matter under the carpet to avoid further trauma for the victim.

An unfriendly policing structure, cumbersome legal system and the secondary status of women in society have made women and children, particularly girls, even as young as five years old, vulnerable to all sorts of physical and sexual violence. Therefore, the perpetrators of such heinous crimes have little or no fear of punishment and the frequency of rape and gang rape is increasing.

The recent Lahore case has brought the issue of sexual violence to the national agenda. For once the media, civil society organizations, government ministers, police officials and the judiciary are in agreement that the perpetrators must be arrested immediately, tried and given exemplary punishment.

It is absolutely high time to initiate a national debate on the issue and build strict, yet victim-friendly legal mechanisms to minimize sexual violence against women and children in the country.

NGOs, CBOs and other social welfare organisations should also design different risk reduction programs for women and children. Furthermore, rape prevention programs for men are an urgent need so as to involve them in campaigns to diminish the prevailing gender inequalities and gender based violence in the society.

About the Author: Amir Murtaza is a senior researcher, analyst and writer on social development issues, especially pertaining to women, youth and children. He can be reached at amirmurtaza@hotmail.com

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About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation that monitors human rights in Asia, documents violations and advocates for justice and institutional reform to ensure the protection and promotion of these rights. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.

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Dr Sheila Das & her Team found more facts

Wed, Jan 16, 2013 at 5:11 PM
3.5 – 5 % were carriers of Beta Thal Major in the general population 
Aroras , Khatris , Ramgariah Sikhs , Jains the prevalence was 4.8% - 9.1% 

Ludhiana, 16th January, 2013 (Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria):A CME on Thalassemia Awareness & Role of Molecular Genetics sponsored by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi was conducted on the 16^th of January 2013 at the Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana. The CME was attended by over 250 delegates which included Gynaecologists and Paeditricians from the Ludhiana city, including CMC Faculty.

Honorable Civil surgeon Dr.Subash Batta, was the Chief Guest, and Dr.K.Ghosh, Director, NIIH, Mumbai was the Guest of Honor, Dr.R.Colah, Dy Director, NIIH, Mumbai, Professor Vijay Obed, Dy Director, Prof.S.M.Bhatti, Pricipal, Prof. K.Masih, Medical Superintendent were also present.

The program was on generating awareness on the various aspects of Thalassemia, advancements in management and preventive strategies which included molecular diagnostics and prenatal diagnosis. The welcome address was given by Prof. Sheila Das, Principal Investigator, ICMR Thalassemia Molecular Genetics Project, Dr.K.Ghosh spoke on Why awareness of Thalassemia is necessary, Dr.R.Colah gave introduction of Molecular Genetics in Thalassemia and CVS study, Dr.Ranjeet S.Mashon, Research Scientist, ICMR Thalassemia Molecular Genetics Project gave a brief report of CMC experience in molecular genetics in Hemoglobinopathies, Ms. Geetanjali spoke on Awareness and Family sstudy in Antenatal women, Dr. Atul Goel, Assoc. Prof, Paediatrics spoke on challenges on managing a child with Thalassemia and Dr. J.John spoke on Bone Marrow Transplant in Thalassemia Children CMC experience.The CME was concluded by a vote of Thanks by Dr.Sheila Das.

It has been found by Dr Sheila Das & her Team in a previous ICMR Research Project by CMC Ludhiana that 3.5 – 5 % were carriers of Beta Thal Major in the general population while in some casts like Aroras , Khatris , Ramgariah Sikhs , Jains the prevalence was 4.8% - 9.1% and in Migrants from West Pak the prevalence was 8.3%.

All pregnant ladies during their first 3 months of Pregnancy are requested to come forward to CMC to get their blood screened for Beta Thalassemia, as this is the only center in Punjab to provide this facility as the ICMR Thalassemia Lab CMC Ludhiana is fully equipped with machines costing  Rs 75-80 lakhs sponsored by ICMR New Delhi .

Dr.Ranjeet S.Mashon may be contacted for more details at 8146560673

A CME on Thalassemia Awareness at CMC Ldh.

Dr Sheila Das and her Team found more facts

CM Dikshit inspecting the flag area

NCC Republic Day Parade Camp-2013,New Delhi

The Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Sheila Dikshit inspecting the flag area, during her visit to DG, NCC Republic Day Parade Camp-2013, in New Delhi on January 08, 2013. The DG, NCC, Lt. Gen. P.S. Bhalla is also seen. (PIB) 08-January-2013                             CM Dikshit inspecting the flag area

To Cure Young bravehearts of major heart disease

Rotary Int. and Army join hands with CMC Heart team

Mr Som Nath Sharma and Mrs Sharda Devi from Akhnoor (J&K), Mr Mohd

Shabir & Mrs Shamim Akhtar from Rajouri (J&K)   are extremely happy

parents today. Their children – Janu Sharma (7y) and Irfan (8y)

respectively had major heart defects with large holes in their hearts

along with defective valves. Both were not growing according to their

age and would get recurrent infections and were blue in colour . They

would land up in the emergency time and again. They are both from a

financially challenged background. They were investigated in Jammu

where the doctors advised an early major open heart surgery at an

advanced centre. Both could not afford to even travel outside J & K.

Their case was ‘adopted’ by the Army under project Sadbhawana – a

brain child of the Chief Of Army Staff – Gen Bikram Singh – and the

International Rotary India Humanity Foundation (based in Kolkata with

Mr Shekhar Mehta as the Director) which runs the Saving Little Hearts

programme. Mrs Sushmita Dasgupta with Ms Urmi Basu (sponsor) of the

Rotary took a personal interest and brought these children with their

parents to the prestigious Christian Medical College & Hospital in

Ludhiana to Dr Harinder Singh Bedi – Head of Cardiac Surgery. On

investigation it was realized that only a major open heart surgery

could save both as medicines had no role and if untreated it could

even lead to death. The bright youngsters suffered from a congenital

heart defect called Tatralogy of Fallot - what is called a ‘Blue Baby’

disease. This is a defect from birth and basically leads to impure

blood mixing with pure blood due to a large hole in the heart combined

with small arteries to the lung.

Dr Bedi who has had advanced training in the treatment of such cases

at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children in Australia and is one

of the senior most practicing cardiac surgeons of India - told that

both children underwent a major  open heart surgery (total correction)

and are doing well. Dr Bedi said that their hearts are now normal and

both can now lead a normal healthy life.  In fact Janu now wants to be

a doctor while Irfan is aiming to be a fighter pilot. The children

were operated upon under the ‘CMC Gift of Life’ project where highly

subsidized International level cardiac surgical care is given to all

children.

Dr Abraham G Thomas – Director of CMC said that the Institute is fully

geared to take care of such children with heart defects. Dr Bedi told

that it was only because of the strong backup of Dr Jugesh Chattawl –

Prof of Paediatrics – and her team that most of the heart defects

could be safely treated in CMC. The other members of the Heart team

during the marathon surgeries were Dr A Joseph, Dr S Garg , Dr Melchi,

Dr Anish, Dr Vishal, Dr Gurleen, Dr Elizabeth, Dr Ashwin and Dr

Cynthia . The Officers of the Army took a personal interest and gave

invaluable logistic and moral help.

Pic: Master Janu and Master Irfan with Dr Harinder Singh Bedi , Dr

Jugesh Chattwal and the Heart team of CMC

For Further Details Please Contact Dr.H.S.Bedi: 9814060480

The NCPCR Foundation Day function

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Women and Child Development, Smt. Krishna Tirath addressing at the NCPCR Foundation Day function, in New Delhi on March 05, 2012. (PIB photo) 05-March-2012

Medical checks on some Afghan children

U.S. Army Spc. Joe Kunsch, a medic assigned to the 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force (TF) Spartan Steel, conducts medical checks on some Afghan children in Khowst province, Afghanistan, Jan. 25, 2012. TF Spartan Steel is part of the Spartan Brigade based at Forward Operating Base Salerno in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Epperson, U.S. Army/Released)