Death penalty to accused; child rights activists voices other issues

New Delhi, April 24: A day after President Ram Nath Kovind approved the ordinance to introduce death penalty for child rape, child and women rights activists voiced dissatisfaction with the move, saying that the new provisions fail to highlight other issues faced by survivors.

The panel headed by former Delhi HC Chief Justice A.P. Shah highlighted that in every nine of the ten cases, the perpetrator is known to the victim and the child is often pressurised into turning hostile.

According to the child right activists, creating children-friendly courtrooms and having trained professionals and lawyers are equally important.

"Legislation oriented to protection of victim was expected. The way trials are conducted is really very disturbing. The children are often exposed to the perpetrators. There are no special courts, how many times will a child victim would go to courts for trials," Gupta noted.