Action against sexual violence in South Asia emphasized

The South Asian Movement for Accessing Justice (SAMAJ), a coalition of 17 civil society organizations, has called on South Asian countries to take immediate action to address the high levels of sexual violence and low conviction rates. The coalition stresses the need for comprehensive legal reforms to close the protection gaps in sexual violence laws, improve criminal justice systems and invest in holistic support services for survivors.

In a statement on Thursday, SAMAJ pointed out that many laws against sexual violence in the region are inadequate. Legal definitions do not cover the full spectrum of sexual violence and there are discriminatory provisions against women and girls. Poor enforcement further emboldens perpetrators and deprives victims of justice, it said.

SAMAJ, which includes human rights organizations from Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, advocates for a “cross-sectoral approach” that includes collaboration between government agencies, civil society organizations, law enforcement agencies, health care providers and the education sector.

The organization came to this conclusion based on a program held in Kathmandu from June 26 to 27. During the event, representatives of 17 civil society organizations explained that despite some progress in legal protection, survivors still face challenges in filing complaints and initiating prosecutions.

These challenges include long delays in investigations and trials, high standards of proof, the admission of evidence about victims’ sexual history by the courts and difficulties in obtaining legal aid. Gender discrimination, victim blaming and social stigma further exacerbate these problems, the authors say.

The coalition also found that the journey through the criminal justice system is currently arduous for most victims, with conviction rates for sexual crimes being low across South Asia. The lack of accountability of perpetrators increases the risk of assault for women and girls, as perpetrators feel emboldened by the low likelihood of being held to account.

Marginalized communities, including indigenous peoples, so-called lower castes and people with disabilities, are particularly vulnerable to intersectional discrimination, which increases their risk of human rights violations and limits their opportunities to seek justice, said Nawmi Naz Chowdhury of Equality Now.

SAMAJ stresses the urgent need for stronger laws, gender-sensitive criminal justice systems and support measures that prioritize survivor-led solutions. The coalition calls for legal reforms to close protection gaps and align national laws with international human rights standards.

Shyamala Gomez, Executive Director of the Centre for Equality and Justice in Sri Lanka, added: “We must put pressure on our governments to take concrete action to ensure justice and accountability for victims of sexual violence.”