The Catalog: Completing Justice, Crowdsourcing Hope & More
Happy Diwali
and a prosperous new year. Hope this festive season is filled with color, light, fun and food.
Do take it easy on the crackers. and we do hope that the crackers take it easy on you.
A lot going on this week. We have the Allahabad court not just giving the child born out of sexual assault the right to property of the perpetrator but also advocating for better rehabilitation measures for victims. Meanwhile, as the juvenile accused in the 2012 Delhi rape case is about to be released, opinions and outrage continue to pile. And yet another UK pedophile looks like he is loophole-ing his way out of a fair trial.
Also read about gender inequality in care work, child rights & internet governance, the Mumbai Working Groups discussions around rehabilitation, health and mandatory reporting in the light of the POCSO law, an article on why the Dance Bar ban needs to remain and new posters on Online Safety.
Finally, in our new section #Give, you may consider donating to the cause.
This week we would like to thank Bindu Sharma, Bodhini and Prof. Pravin Patkar for their invaluable inputs.
#Quotes of the Week
“Nobody protests that Halloween is anti-Indian because unlike Valentine’s Day it does not involve SEX. Sigh!”
#News This Week
Allahabad High Court Upholds Inheritance Rights of a Child Born Out of Sexual Assault
“It is irrelevant as to whether the newly-born child of a rape victim is born out of consensual sex or otherwise.”
In a major judgement, Allahabad High Court ruled that a child born out of sexual assault has inheritance rights over the property of the perpetrator. In the same judgement, the court also mentioned that law is not currently ‘up to the mark’ when it comes to addressing the rehabilitation of victims. It advocates for the legislature to enact a law which may deal with this “complex social issue”. The above article from The Hindu weighs in with a wide perspective and remarks on how this humane, practical and progressive judgement paves the way for the future.
Pending Release of Juvenile Convict in the ‘Nirbhaya’ Case Sparks Outrage
Next month marks the release of the Juvenile convict in 2012 Delhi rape case. Tweeps on twitter has taken to early angry rumbling and the victim’s mother has strongly re-iterated her objections to letting the boy go free. With governments now increasingly blurring the line between public relations and governance, it would be a good time for civil society to start watching this space and make their voices heard.
UK Citizen Wanted for Child Sexual Abuse in India Evasive on Return for Trial
Last year, it was Raymond Varley. This year its another UK citizen Jonathan Robinson – a pastor accused of Child Sexual Abuse in India who fled our shores for the UK and in now being evasive on returning to face the court. Robinson is actively discrediting his victim and weaseling his way out of the trial. In fact, his argument seems to make a victim out of him. Closer working relations between the governments is the only way out.
#MustRead
High Share of Care Work keeps Indian Women out of Economy
The economics of care and the politics of gender! Globally, women spend roughly three times the amount of time spent by men on unpaid work. In India, the situation is more extreme – women perform 9.8 times the amount of unpaid care work than men.
One in Three: Internet Governance and Children’s Rights
Sonia Livingstone, Professor in Department of Media and Communications, London School of Economics and Political Science writes an illuminating paper that imagines an internet as a platform that recognizes, restores and re-enforces the rights of our children. It advocates for the framework required for building ‘child friendly internet’, one in which parents, policy makers, industry and other internet users all play a part. Source:- Bindu Sharma)
#New @ Aarambh
The first ever POCSO On The Ground – an Evidence Based Discussion on the POCSO law came to a close with the formation of three working group on 1) Rehabilitation 2) Uniformity in Health Systems 3) Mandatory Reporting and Age of Consent. Over the past 6 months, all three groups have been meeting and deliberating on their chosen areas. On 30th October, 2015, all three groups shared their deliberations till date. Click the link above for a round up of the presentations and discussions.
The Issue with Lifting the Ban on Dance Bars That No One Seems to Talk About
For years, Prof. (Dr.) Pravin Patkar was on the frontlines of the movement that sought to crack down on the Dance Bars of Maharashtra. The ban was put in place in 2006. However a recent order by the Supreme Court looks to bring the ban to an end. Prof. Patkar writes in explaining why the Maharashtra government bungled the ban and how re-opening the dance bars may put thousands of vulnerable young girls across the country at the risk of trafficking and exploitation. (Source:– Prof. (Dr.) Pravin Patkar)
Everything You Want to Teach Your Kids About Online Safety In 1 Poster
You may be a Ninja, but you don’t need to be one to protect your children from a bad experience over the internet. Simple, straight forward messages can help you teach your child not just how to use the internet safely but most importantly, how to be a good online citizen. Our friends at Bodhini, Kochi have yet again outdone themselves with a brilliant poster, in English and Malayalam, that puts together everything you need to tell your child. (Source:– Bodhini)
#Events
19th November, 2015
Delhi – The itinerary for the event may not explicitly state Child Safety or Child Sexual Abuse Images but it is bound to be discussed. One is sure that the fact that the event is being held on the International Day of Prevention of Abuse and Violence Against Children will not be lost. Click here to know more. (Source:– Bindu Sharma)
For their online campaign, Bodhini is requesting groups and individuals to take videos (both ‘selfies’ and otherwise) in which you say ‘Break the silence/stop child abuse’ and gesture the open hand stop sign to the camera. They assure us that videos are pouring in. It’s kind of similar to the recent full stop campaign but what its asking for is easy. To join campaign, send the videos to 8891320005 (whatsapp) or to bodhini2014@gmail.com. And do spread the word. (Source:– Bodhini)
#Give
It is a shame that the campaign by a new internet news portal is utterly crude and borderline exploitative in the way it mines emotion. But nonetheless the focus should remain on the victim. Your donation can help ensure the 4 year old child victim’s rehabilitation and future. If you are looking to donate this Diwali, its a worthy cause.
#Events
Coming Together on the Internet to Against Child Sexual Abuse
More and more parents, concerned adults, politicians, media and good old NGOs are taking up and engaging with the issue online, writes the India Head of international petition site Change.org.
