Working with the Police and the Judiciary to ensure Safe Spaces for Women Victims of Crime by Dr.Beulah Shekhar [e-mail]

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Working with the Police and the Judiciary to
ensure Safe Spaces for Women Victims of Crimeby
Dr.Beulah Shekharbeulahshekhar_at_yahoo.com
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• Our lives begin to end the day we become silent
  about things that matter- Martin Luther King
• And victims do matter to all of us , that is why
  we are all here !

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• What is a safe space for women ? A Safe space
  for a woman is a place where she can relax and
  be fully self-expressed, without fear of being
  made to feel uncomfortable, unwanted, or unsafe
  on account of her gender, race, religion
  ethnicity, cultural background age, or physical
  and mental ability. It is a place where the rules
  guard each persons self-respect and strongly
  encourage everyone to respect others.
• THIS WHAT THE UN DECLARATION ON VICTIMS,
  ENVISAGES THE POLICE STAIONS AND THE CRIMINAL
  COURTS TO BE FOR WOMEN VICTIMS !
• Why should a police station or a court be women
  friendly or we need to make the Police stations
  and courts a safe space for women and girls who
  are victims of crime ? Because she deserves a
  safe space to redress her grievances , on her
  path to recovery, reparation and in her pursuit
  for justice
• The key findings of prison studies show that
• Victims can become offenders because of their
  experience.
• Causes could include carrying out retaliation on
  the offender, or against others in a displaced
  show of strength or emotion.  
•  Two-thirds of sex offenders in prisons
  victimized a child. who do not get justice turn
  offenders and when they do not cope with their
  victimization seek their own justice turn around
  and become offenders
• Hence VICTIM ASSISTANCE IS CRIME PREVENTION
  ALSO -

4
The Need to Sensitize the Police and the
Judiciary

• Victim is the gate keeper of the Criminal Justice
  System ( legislative, enforcement, judicial
  correctional wing )
• The Police and Judiciary are the front line
  professionals dealing with the Victims
• There is a lack of access to Justice for victims
  of crime in the present Criminal Justice System
  due to the Secondary Victimization by the
  Criminal Justice System
• There is need for a shift of focus from delivery
  of Justice to the accused to the Justice to
  victim and prevent Secondary Victimization by the
  CJS
• Victims are loosing faith in the Criminal Justice
  System
• If Victims turn away from the System the
  Criminal justice system as we know it today, will
  become non functional
• VICTIMS WILL TAKE LAW INTO THEIR OWN HANDS AND
  SEEK JUSTICE ELSE WHERE !

5
The key UN Documents that will be highlighted
today are the

• The UN Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice
  for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power 1985
  . Which is truly the magna carta for victims
  provides the basic framework of principles
  which in the last two decades have been
  vociferously debated and converted as victims
  rights by some of the developed countries.
• The Handbook on Justice to Victims Deals with
  the use and application of the UN Declaration The
  Handbook on Justice to Victims was prepared by a
  group of experts from more than 40 countries by
  the Office for Victims of Crime in the Department
  of Justice and the Ministry of Justice in the
  Netherlands. The document was developed in
  cooperation with the United Nations Office at
  Vienna, Centre for International Crime
  Prevention, Office for Drug Control and Crime
  Prevention
• The Guide for Policy makers

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The Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice
for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power

• The General Assembly adopted the Declaration on
  29 Nov. 1985
• This Declaration is descendant to the UN
  Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted in
  1948
• This Declaration gives victims a legitimate place
  in the universal agenda of Human Rights

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The Two Parts of the Declaration

• For Victims of Crime
• Definitions for national norms
• Access to justice and fair treatment
• Restitution, compensation, and assistance
• For Victims of Abuse of Power
• Definitions for national and international norms
• Access to justice, fair treatment
• Restitution, compensation, and assistance
• Multilateral international treaties
• Special legislation

8
Ten Basic Principles of Justice for Crime Victims
as per this Instrument

• Justice is served only if Victims of crime are
• Treated with COMPASSION AND RESPECT
• Given the required INFORMATION (on rights in
  proceedings and explanation of progress)
• Allowed to PRESENT THEIR VIEWS TO THE COURT
• Have access to FREE LEGAL AID/ ADVICE
• Are assured PROTECTION OF PRIVACY AND PHYSICAL
  SAFETY
• Have a choice of an INFORMAL DISPUTE
  RESOLUTION
• Are given SOCIAL AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
• Are given RESTITUTION BY THE OFFENDER / OR
• Are given COMPENSATION BY THE STATE
• Receive CAPACITY BUILDING COOPERATION they
  need in their pursuit of Justice

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The Handbook on Justice for Victims

• Section 1 Impact of Victimization
• Section 2 Victim Assistance
• Section 3 The role and Responsibility of Front
  Line Professionals to Victims
• Section 4 Advocacy, Policy Making Law Reform
• Section 5 Working together at the International
  Level

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• The courtroom is the focal point of the entire
  Criminal Justice System. . .
• The judge who presides over a court becomes not
  only the final arbiter of each evidentiary and
  procedural issue, but also establishes the tone,
  the pace, and the very nature of the
  proceedings..
• Particularly for the victim, the judge is the
  personification of justice.
• .Lois Haight
• Chair of the 1982 Presidents Task Force on
  Victims of Crime

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The Guide for Policy Makers on Implementation

• 39 page companion to Handbook
• Defines tasks to achieve the goals of the
  Declaration
• Encourages governments to develop support
  programs
• Reminds policy makers that victims deserve
  respect for their dignity, privacy and security
• Stresses importance of establishing partnerships
  with all agencies

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Functions of the Police and the Judiciary as
Frontline Professionals

• Police and Judiciary as part of the Criminal
  Justice System are frontline professionals
• A woman victim of crime has to deal with the
  police and judiciary in the immediate aftermath
  of the crime
• The victims first interaction with the police
  and judiciary is crucial to how she copes and
  recovers on the road to the Justice

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Police Stations- haven or hell?

• Custodial Rape/ femicide a recent
  disturbing trend in many countries- India,
  Pakistan, Bangladesh, Mexico, Guatemala and even
  developed countries like UK and USA where victim
  laws are in place

• Two New York City Police officers were arrested
  in April 2009 for rape, burglary and misconduct
  towards a 29-year old drunk woman whom they
  escorted to her apartment in response to a 911
  call from a cab driver.
• In 2006 in a civil unrest in San Salvador Atenco,
  Mexico, there was excessive use of force and
  firearms by hundreds of state police. The
  National Human Rights Commission in its
  investigations found that the police had molested
  and raped female detainees and abused children,
  the elderly and the disabled.

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• A detention officer based at Kendal police
  station, UK has been jailed for five years for
  committing a number of child sex offences.
• The Guatemalan army, paramilitary (civilian
  defense patrols) and police used rape and
  violence against women as a weapon of war.
• In Bangladesh it has been reported that Policemen
  are regularly implicated in rape cases, but never
  charged with the crime. Rights organization say
  reasons include patriarchal norms and sometime
  when the victim is poor they are often silenced
  by money
• In India rape in police custody is regularly
  reported. The state of Uttar Pradesh in North
  India has acquired a notorious reputation where
  women are being victimized in large numbers. A
  rape, often of minor girls is reported every day
  in the media. Last month a 14-year old girl was
  reported raped and murdered in a police station.

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Judges Paragons of (In)Justice

• A convicted rapist will not go to jail because a
  Manitoba judge says the victim sent signals that
  "sex was in the air" through her suggestive
  attire and flirtatious conduct on the night of
  the attack
• Empirical studies of judicial attitudes by legal
  scholars and social scientists confirmed that
  male judges tended to adhere to traditional
  values and beliefs about the "nature" of and
  proper roles for men and women, and to prefer
  conformity to traditional and familiar
• institutions and roles (Wikler, 1980)

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• A study on the Judicial attitude towards Rape in
  India mentions several Supreme Court decisions
  that were openly insensitive and unjust.
• Judges acquitted the accused stating that the
  fear that led a victim to passively submit to
  rape by two police constables could not be
  conclusively proved as fear of death or hurt
• Judges reduced the sentence of a convicted rapist
  because he was young and had a whole life ahead
  of him
• Judges reduced the sentence of a group convicted
  of gang rape because the gang rape did not seem
  to be preplanned but only happened because the
  men gave into their lust and lost control
• SO MUCH FOR VICTIM JUSTICE !!!!

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• A Saudi judge said it is okay for a man to slap
  his wife for lavish spending at a seminar on
  domestic violence, according to a report from
  Agence France-Presse
• A survey in India (Shivakumar, 1999) with 109
  judges to assess their attitudes towards domestic
  violence showed that
• 48 per cent of them believed there were certain
  occasions when it was OK for a man to slap his
  wife,
• 74 per cent felt that the preservation of the
  family was more important even if women faced
  violence,
• 68 per cent believed that provocative clothes
  were an invitation to sexual assault and
• 34 per cent thought dowry had inherent cultural
  values
• Hence, gender sensitisation is the need of the
  hour to change the mindset of the judges to
  provide proper justice to the victims of domestic
  violence

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Women as Victims of Crime

• Women hesitate to report crime
• Women as victims special needs as Victims that
  have to be addressed
• Stark differences between National Crime Figures
  and Victimization Survey Figures
• Dark figures of crime are increasing
• Need to increase the reporting of Crime and
  increase the faith in the Criminal Justice System
• How do we as NGOs / Womens Organisations plug the
  gap in services?

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• The International Crime Victim Survey (ICVS)
  series developed by the ICVS international
  working group is an International victimization
  survey project set up
• To fill the gap in adequate recording of offenses
  by the police for purposes of comparing crime
  rates in different nations
• To provide a crime index independent of police
  statistics as an alternative standardized
  measure.
• The series has so far done five sweep of surveys
  in 1989, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2005
• The European Crime and Safety Survey (EU ICS) is
  a tool for measuring the volume and nature of
  crime in Europe. The EU ICS consortium combines
  leading European research centres with a proven
  track record of data collection and analysis

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Reasons for Victim Dissatisfaction of Police
Around the Globe
Reasons for dissatisfaction with the police
(percentagesfor the last incident in a period of
five years) 2004-2005 ICVS and 2005 EU ICS from
Criminal Victimisation in International
Perspective Key findings from the 2004-2005 ICVS
and EU ICS by Jan van Dijk
Mentioned Reasons Theft Burglary Robbery Sexual incidents Assaults Threats All five crimes
Did not do enough 63 68 68 63 71 66
were not interested 52 56 56 60 56 54
Did not find offender 55 58 56 58 42 54
Did not recover goods 52 49 36 48
Gave no information 44 44 40 49 37 42
Were impolite 20 25 29 34 25 22
Were slow to arrive 22 32 25 23 29 25
Other/dont know 19 36 26 44 29 14
Multiple responses were allowed, percentages may add up to more than 100. Multiple responses were allowed, percentages may add up to more than 100. Multiple responses were allowed, percentages may add up to more than 100. Multiple responses were allowed, percentages may add up to more than 100. Multiple responses were allowed, percentages may add up to more than 100. Multiple responses were allowed, percentages may add up to more than 100. Multiple responses were allowed, percentages may add up to more than 100.
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• Based on the International Crime Victim Surveys
  and the European Survey on Crime and Safety
• The main reason for dissatisfaction was that the
  police did not do enough
• The second cause for dissatisfaction was that the
  police were not interested mentioned by about
  half
• The next most common complaint overall was that
  no offender had been caught.
• Next , impoliteness on the part of the police
  was mentioned more often
• The fifth most common reason of dissatisfaction
  was that the police had not given information
  (42). One in five victims mentioned impoliteness
  as a source of dissatisfaction. One in three of
  female victims reporting sexual incidents
• Then complaint about lack of information made up
  7 of all reasons given in 1996 and 2000 and 12
  in 2005. This upward trend in victims complaining
  about lack of information can be observed in most
  countries of the European Union.

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• In a study that analyzed Victim counselling in an
  All Womens Police Station in a Town in South
  India one crucial finding was a strong
  correlation between the victims satisfaction
  with the counselling session and their response
  about the fear of police. The study suggested
  that this correlation maybe because
• The victim is satisfied with the counselling
  session as she does not feel intimidated by the
  police
• The victim feels that there is a person she can
  relate to who will be of assistance and give her
  the emotional support that she needs.
• Victims satisfied with the counselling will be
  better inclined to come and register a complaint
  in future thereby helping reduce the dark figures
  of crime in the long run

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• The U.N Declaration On Basic Principles Of
  Justice For Victims Of Crime And Abuse Of Power
  states that
• Judicial and administrative mechanisms should be
  established and strengthened where necessary to
  enable victims to obtain redress through formal
  or informal procedures that are expeditious,
  fair, inexpensive and accessible
• Victims should be informed of their rights in
  seeking redress through such mechanisms
• The Charter of the United Nations also reaffirms
  faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity
  and worth of the human person and in the equal
  rights of men and women
• Despite several resolutions, declarations and
  recommendations adopted by the United Nations and
  the specialized agencies promoting equality of
  rights of men and women, extensive discrimination
  against women continues to exist

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• Article 2 of the CEDAW , the UN Convention on the
  Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
  against Women 1979 states that the ratifying
  parties shall
• Condemn all forms of discrimination against women
  by adopting appropriate legislative measures,
  sanctions prohibiting such discrimination
• Establish legal protection of the rights of women
  on an equal basis with men and ensure through
  competent national tribunals and other public
  institutions the effective protection of women
  against any act of discrimination
• Ensure that public authorities and institutions
  shall act in conformity with this obligation
• Take all appropriate measures, including
  legislation, to modify or abolish existing laws,
  regulations, customs and practices which
  constitute discrimination against women

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• A woman victim of crime already traumatized by
  the crime undergoes further Secondary
  Traumatization at the hands of the system that
  she must confront to seek redress
• Women victims continue to experience threat and
  discrimination at the hands of police and in
  courtrooms
• Research has shown that dignity and healing of
  victims depends on the respect and assistance
  extended to them by frontline professionals like
  the Police, prosecutors, victim advocates, legal
  aid providers, judges, corrections personnel,
  medical staff and mental health providers

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THE U.N DECLARATION ON BASIC PRINCIPLES OF
JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME AND ABUSE OF POWER,
1985

• On 29 November 1985, the General Assembly of the
  United Nations adopted the Declaration of Basic
  Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and
  Abuse of Power based on the conviction that
  victims should be treated with compassion and
  respect for their dignity and that they are
  entitled to prompt redress for the harm that they
  have suffered, through access to the criminal
  justice system, reparation and services to assist
  their recovery.

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• The Proposed Draft UN Convention on Justice and
  Support for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power
  in its Preamble recognizes that millions of
  people, including many women and children,
  throughout the world still suffer harm as a
  result of crime, abuse of power and terrorism,
  and that the rights of these victims still have
  not been adequately recognized, and that they
  may, in addition, suffer hardship when assisting
  in the prosecution of perpetrators
• The Preamble further noted that it is necessary
• to provide victims of crime with better
  information, support services, reparation from
  offenders, compensation from the state and a role
  in criminal proceedings and
• to establish programs to protect victims of crime
  who are vulnerable, for instance because of
  gender or age

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The definition of Victims of crime as per the UN
Declaration

•  "Victims" means persons who, individually or
  collectively, have suffered harm, including
• physical or
• mental injury,
• emotional suffering,
• economic loss or
• substantial impairment of their fundamental
  rights,
• through acts or omissions that are in
  violation of criminal laws operative within
  Member States, including those laws proscribing
  criminal abuse of power.

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• A person may be considered a victim, under this
  Declaration, regardless of whether the
  perpetrator
• is identified,
• apprehended,
• prosecuted or
• convicted and
• regardless of the familial relationship between
  the perpetrator and the victim.
• The term "victim" also includes, where
  appropriate, the immediate family or dependants
  of the direct victim and persons who have
  suffered harm in intervening to assist victims in
  distress or to prevent victimization.
•  The provisions contained shall be applicable to
  all, without distinction of any kind, such as
  race, colour, sex, age, language, religion,
  nationality, political or other opinion, cultural
  beliefs or practices, property, birth or family
  status, ethnic or social origin, and disability.

30

• The UN Declaration states that victims of crime
  have a right to Access to justice and fair
  treatment
• Victims should be treated with compassion and
  respect for their dignity
• They are entitled to access to the
  mechanisms of justice and to prompt redress, as
  provided for by national legislation, for the
  harm that they have suffered
• For most victims and their families, the
  first contacts with the authorities are with the
  police. If the perpetrator of the offence cannot
  be apprehended (as in the case in the majority of
  offences reported to the police), the interview
  by the police is often the only contact with the
  authorities
• The satisfaction of the victims with their
  treatment by the police is an important measure
  of the victims satisfaction with the system

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• The UN handbook on Justice for Victims prescribes
• Sensitization of the police and the judiciary to
  the needs of victims by adequate training
• Training for police officers in victim issues
  should emphasize awareness and empathy for
  victims and their needs
• Treating victims in a more sensitive and
  sympathetic manner inevitably helps the police to
  do their job better by ensuring that more
  information is provided and that the victim is
  more willing and better able to become involved
  as a witness within the judicial system

32
The Role and Responsibility of the Police to
Victims as per the Handbook on Justice for Victims

• On-site crisis intervention
• Emergency medical assistance
• Information about police procedures and
  investigation process
• Assistance to protect evidence
• Accompany the victims to emergency medical
  services
• Information about possible consequences of the
  crime on the victim
• Information about victims rights and
  availability of compensation

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• Referrals to victim assistance services
• Ensuring that the victim is personally contacted
  by telephone or in person 24 to 48 hours
  following the initial response in order to see
  whether assistance has been sought and/or
  received
• Ensuring that the property of the victim is
  secured so that personal safety is not
  compromised as a result of crime
• Establishing procedures to ensure that victims of
  violent crime are periodically informed of the
  status of investigations
• Establishing protocols for proper detention and
  investigation of suspects in order to protect the
  safety of victims.

34

• U.N declaration states that the responsiveness
  of judicial and administrative processes to the
  needs of victims should be
• Informing victims of their role and the scope,
  timing and progress of the proceedings and of the
  disposition of their cases, especially where
  serious crimes are involved and where they have
  requested such information
• Allowing the views and concerns of victims to be
  presented and considered at appropriate stages of
  the proceedings where their personal interests
  are affected, without prejudice to the accused
  and consistent with the relevant national
  criminal justice system
• taking measures to minimize inconvenience to
  victims, protect their privacy, when necessary,
  and ensure their safety, as well as that of their
  families and witnesses on their behalf, from
  intimidation and retaliation
• Judicial and administrative mechanisms should be
  established and strengthened where necessary to
  enable victims to obtain redress through formal
  or informal procedures that are expeditious,
  fair, inexpensive and accessible
• Victims should be informed of their rights in
  seeking redress through such mechanisms

35
The Roles and Responsibilities of the Prosecution
to Victims

• Keep victims informed and involved by providing
  information about the criminal justice system and
  proceedings, status of cases and coordinating
  with the judiciary
• Providing a waiting area for victims and
  witnesses and their families in the courthouse
  that is separate visually and audibly from the
  offender. These areas should be child-friendly
  and safe and secure, where feasible
• Establish agreements with non governmental
  organizations to provide services such as
  victim-alert programs, coordinating witness
  appearances, information about availability of
  restitution

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• Continue assistance to victims after conviction
  of the offender
• Respect and recognition for victims
• Providing victims with information
• Special services and support
• The ordering of restitution
• Victim participation / VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT
• Support Persons accompanying victims
• Protection of the victim
• Protection of special categories of victims
• Architecture and use of space in court buildings

37
International trends towards improving the
response of the Criminal Justice system towards
Victims of Crime as per the Guide for Policy
Makers

• Guidelines for the police and judicial
  authorities that stipulate the proper treatment
  of victims
• Introduction of a comprehensive victim bills of
  rights
• Simplify procedures in the administration of
  justice and to promote general awareness of the
  availability of various mechanisms for obtaining
  justice and redress
• Designating particular police officers,
  prosecutors and judges to be responsible for
  victim issues in general or for matters relating
  to particular victims
• Establishing special sections in bar associations
  that focus on victim issues

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• Setting up separate victims affairs offices, for
  example at police stations or in court
• Examining legal procedures in order to ensure the
  availability of judicial review. For example In
  Germany and Mexico the victim is permitted to
  request that a superior prosecutor or a court
  review the decision. In Austria and Finland the
  victim is
• allowed to prosecute directly
• Victims are increasingly being provided, where
  appropriate, with a choice of proceeding with
  criminal, administrative, civil or informal
  measures
• The establishment or expansion of the possibility
  of presenting civil claims in connection with
  criminal proceedings.
• This possibility is available in a great number
• of jurisdictions, for example as partie
  civile (in French-based systems) or
• adhesion proceedings (in many
  jurisdictions based on the Germanic system)

39

• In Mexico neglect by the prosecutor or the court
  to take into consideration the right of the
  victim to claim redress in criminal proceedings
  may lead to administrative sanctions
• The Indian Experience - Creation of a Victim
  Assistance Fund scheme in the state of Tamil Nadu
  in India that provides monetary help to victims
  of homicide or their bereaved relatives, victims
  of serious physical injuries including rape, and
  victims of grievous hurt
• In Austria Victims may submit evidence, suggest
  questions that may be asked of the defendant or
  of witnesses, and comment on statements and
  evidence submitted to the court
• USA provides the victim a right to be heard on
  the appropriate sentence of the defendant and on
  their release from prison on parole

40

• In Finland and India the laws on cost-free legal
  proceedings also apply to victims in the case of
  need
• Most countries in western Europe, Australia,
  Canada, Hungary, Poland and the United States
  have established such programmes in close
  cooperation with law enforcement agencies, who
  are often the victims first contact with persons
  of authority
• In Finland and the United States a social worker
  or a specially trained volunteer is arranged to
  accompany the police officer when responding, for
  example, to domestic disturbance calls and when
  informing family members of a violent crime
• Portugal and the United States have experimented
  with victim/witness programmes based in the
  prosecutors offices or, since social workers are
  often present in court and see all parties
  requesting help, in probation services

41

• Some measures taken in different jurisdictions to
  minimize inconvenience to victims include
• If the property of the victim (such as stolen
  property or soiled clothing) is required as
  evidence, photographs can be taken or sworn
  statements prepared by the investigating
  officer. The property can then be restored to the
  victim, unless a formal objection is made
• Immediate reimbursement to the victim of expenses
  involved in participating in the police
  investigation and attending proceedings, pending
  the determination of guilt and the final
  allocation of responsibility for the costs
• Special consideration as to whether the testimony
  of a witness is required at a court session and,
  if so, whether the summons could indicate more
  closely the actual time at which the case would
  be heard

42

• Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden have created
  a position of support persons whose services
  are paid by the State and who, in such serious
  cases as sexual assault, accompany the victim
  throughout the process, from the first contacts
  with the authorities to the implementation of the
  decision
• Arrangements for sustenance, child care
  facilities and other conveniences while waiting
  in court and the possibility of separate waiting
  room facilities to avoid undue contact with the
  suspect or with the suspects relatives and
  acquaintances
• Reviewing the possibility of in camera
  proceedings or, for example, the provision of
  videotaped testimony or the use of one-way
  mirrors where this would encourage the victim to
  speak more freely, as in the case of victims of
  sexual assault or child victims
• The appointment of child advocates, who are
  mandated by the court to represent the interests
  of the child victim

43
Towards Safe Spaces for Women Victims of Crime-
All Women Police Stations

• A pioneering initiative of the state of Tamil
  Nadu in India (though the first one was opened in
  Calicut in 1973). At the World level the first
  AWPS was set up in Brazil in 1985. The first AWPS
  in Tamil Nadu was opened in 1991.
• Since its commissioning in 1991 the number of
  AWPS in India has grown to 524 (National Crime
  Records Bureau 2009)
• An AWPS is manned? operated by one woman
  Sub-Inspector and two women police constables

44
An All Women Police Station
A Woman Police Sub-inspector talks to a couple
involved in a domestic dispute
An all-women staff operates the customer counter
at the South Indian food store
45
Brazilian Initiative to Encourage Reporting by
Women Victims
An All Women Police Station in Brazil
46
Aims of All Women Police Stations

• Provide immediate relief to women in distress
• Rescue girls and missing children,
• Assist policemen in the raids to curb immoral
  trafficking
• Public order duties at large gatherings where
  women congregate
• Investigate crime cases against women under
  Indian Penal Code, Dowry Prohibition Act,
  Tamilnadu Prevention of Women Harassment Act,
  Domestic Violence Act, Child Marriage Act,
  Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, Child
  Labour act, Juvenile Justice act, Prevention of
  Immoral Traffic Act
• Provide 24x7 women helpline and child helpline
  services

47
Towards Safe Spaces for Women Victims of Crime-
Mahila/ Family Courts

• Designation of courts to deal exclusively with
  cases relating to offences against women
• Headed by District and Sessions Judges for speedy
  trial and disposal of cases of offences committed
  against women and also cases under other social
  laws enacted by the Central and State Governments
  for the protection of women
• To ensure that the these places are manned by
  trained personnel who are sensitized to the needs
  of women as victims of crime.

48
Aims of Women's /Mahila/ Family Courts

• To promote conciliation and secure speedy
  settlement of disputes relating to offences
  against women , family affairs and for matters
  connected
• To ensure that persons who are appointed to
  these y courts are committed to the need to
  protect women and ensure that the court is a safe
  space for women and to promote the settlement of
  disputes by conciliation and counselling
• Preference of women as mahila /Family Court
  judges
• To associate with institutions engaged in
  promoting welfare of families, especially women
  and children, or working in the field of social
  welfare
• To facilitate satisfactory resolution of disputes
  concerning the women through a forum that works
  expeditiously and in a just manner and with an
  approach ensuring maximum welfare of society and
  dignity of women

49
The Road Ahead

• To advocate that training in Victimology and
  victim assistance be included in the academic
  syllabus of every Police and Judicial academy
• Victimization surveys in order to assess the
  magnitude of the problem in realtion to the dark
  figures of crime.
• Involvement of the YWCAs and other NGOs in
  training at the Police academies and judicial
  academies
• Sensitization , skill development and capacity
  building of officers and functionaries
• of NGOs, civil societies.
• Research on need of victims in every country
• All services provided to victims should be need
  based
• To initiate the setting up of National Societies
  of Victimololgy to work with the World Society
  of Victimololgy which has a consultative status
  with the UN and hence the ability to affect the
  much needed change in the treatment of victims

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Knowledge is power this is the Motto of The
Manonmaniam Sundaranar University

• Now we have the knowleedge of the UN declaration
  for Victims , and hence the power to make a
  difference in the life of Women who are victims
  of crime in out cities, when we return from
  Jakarta

51
Thank you

• Dr. Beulah Shekhar
• Manonmaniam Sundaranar University
• Tamil Nadu, India