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Silence of women wrong signal to abusers on buses and trains, say police
View(s):By Nathara Abeywickrema
to police.
A campaign has been launched to arrest suspects who mistreat women and children on buses and trains.
Chief of Police in charge of the Child and Women Abuse Prevention Division DIG Renuka Jayasundara told the Sunday Times that from February to June, 34 suspects have been arrested over sexual harassment of women on public transport and 12 have been held over sexual assault in public spaces.
Police Media Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said that the recent operation has had positive outcomes.
Women experience various forms of sexual harassment while travelling in crowded buses or trains. Pic by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
“The campaign is ongoing and is done randomly on a daily basis with a significant number of arrests although the challenge of covering all the buses in operation remains. Nevertheless, as the police, we make every effort to prevent harassment on public transport,” he said.
Users of public transport, particularly women, experience various forms of sexual harassment, with 60% expressing unpleasant experiences while travelling in crowded buses or trains and that remains a social problem that has not been addressed in spite of numerous requests for remedies, according to a report of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) based on a study in 2015.
Most victimisers typically benefit the most from a woman’s silence. No matter how many rules are put in place to stop harassment of women on public transport, attitudes of people at large still need to shift, said the State Minister of Women and Child Affairs Geetha Kumarasinghe.
In spite of the fact that over 90% of women in Sri Lanka between 15 years 35 experience gender-based violence on public transport, at least once in their lives, fewer than 4% pursue legal action, according to UNFP’s records.
Mrs. Kumarasinghe said there is no other country where passengers misbehave in public transport as in Sri Lanka. “A violence-free Sri Lanka is far from being achieved due to the lack of seriousness of gender-based violence (GBV), women’s resistance, and inaccurate data. Police records only cover reported cases, and many women and girls do not report to the police.”
Mrs. Kumarasinghe said installing CCTV cameras in all forms of public transport would be a good move. She encouraged the Ministry of Transport and Highways to implement this initiative.
Chairman of National Transport Commission (NTC) Shashi Welgama said that the NTC’s one main concern is the safety of women on buses.
“The NTC received complaints via the hot-line 1955. We always prioritise the complaints and take disciplinary action against victimisers,” Mr. Welgama noted.
“Every week, the NTC organises a disciplinary course for roughly 100 drivers and conductors. To help the NTC speed up actions, we also intend to introduce a mobile application that will allow victims to snap a picture of the moment where they were wronged and fill out their details, as evidence if they experience any form of abuse,’’ he said..
“We make it our constant goal to stand by the passenger. Those who would prefer not to be identified by calling 1955 can email chairman@ntc.gov.lk or fax directly to my personal fax at 011 250 3725, was the request of Mr. Welgama to all the women who use public transport every day..
Moreover, a senior official of Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) claimed that efforts to reduce harassment of women, such as setting aside separate compartments for women and children, were abandoned when a number of issues surfaced.
He said: “On trains, women and children are constantly vulnerable to harassment and abuse. Having a ladies’ section makes it easier and safer for women to get to their schools or workplaces.
Chairman of National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) Chanaka Amarasinghe said that the Provincial Road Passenger Transport Authority, the All Island Inter District School Children Transportation Association, and the NTC jointly held workshops for Northwestern Province school van drivers and their assistants about child safety. A decal was given designating a van as child-friendly.
“We hope to take this effort island-wide,’’ Mr Amarasinghe said.
The NCPA and Sri Lanka Railways have agreed to post instructions promoting safety of children at important train stations, Mr. Amarasinghe said.
Sajeewani Abeykoon, director of law enforcement of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) said most of the time women are afraid to raise their voices simply because of a lack of social support.
Regardless of laws against sexual assault, the subject becomes very delicate when a woman reports the abuse to the police, even if the case is eventually brought before a judge. This needs to be handled, and the public and relevant authorities need to understand its gravity, Ms. Abeykoon said.
Independent consultant on gender equality and women’s rights Saama Rajakaruna said that the process from handling complaints to going to court should be made easier for women.
“Everyone in society should create a conducive environment for every woman in such a situation. If those around act in support of the victimised woman, it would do wonders,” Ms. Rajakaruna said.
Expert on gender equality Velusamy Weerasingham voiced that while overcrowding contributes to harassment, even seated women passengers on public transport have faced harassment.
According to him, counselling after experiencing harassment should focus on the victim, assisting the victim in moving past the trauma. Harassment negatively impacts one’s mental health and concealing such simply exacerbates it.
Additionally, harassment contributes to toxic masculinity and that ought to be stopped ideally at home and school level, by instilling respect for women, Mr. Weerasingham said
| All types of sex assaults in public to be criminally punishable All forms of sexual harassment and sexual assault, including harassment in public places will be criminalised. The Cabinet has approved a related proposal by the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Dr. Wijeydasa Rajapakshe. He told the Sunday Times the proposals have been evaluated by experts, and a legal reforms committee named by the ministry had made recommendations. He said that the Penal Code, Section 345, specifies a maximum two-year prison sentence or a fine but lacked criminalising all forms of sexual harassment. Accordingly the Cabinet this week approved amendments to the Penal code criminalising all forms of sexual harassment, including sexual harassment in public places. The ever-increasing complaints of sexual harassments of women and children prompted amendments to the Penal Code to criminalise sexual assault and harassment in all circumstances. | |
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