How to stop sex crime victims turning hostile?

Though a victim’s testimony in court is the best piece of evidence, not much attention has been paid towards the rights of the victim, he said unveiling his sevenpoint strategy to nail the perpetrators of crime against women.

Anonymity of the victim, in-camera trial, use of screen while recording of a victim’s statement, recording of evidence through video-conferencing were some of the important aspects of his suggestions to allow the victim not being coerced in one way or the other to turn hostile.

Springing a surprise, Rao in his speech, read out by Law Commission member K N Chaturvedi, said the lawmakers could even think of cross-examination through written questions handed over by the trial judge, which could be answered in writing by the victim.

“Victims often feel embarrasment due to the questions put by the defence counsel in cross-examination,” he said. This procedure for answering defence questions in writing could make the victim to meet the questions head on.

Rao’s suggestions touched a important chord among social activists, media personnel and related field personnel who discussed a host of issues during’National Consultation on the Protection of Victims of Trafficking and Other Forms of Violence’ organised by NGO — South Asian Regional Initiative/Equity Support Program (Sarieq).

Sarieq’s Helga Klein revealed that with Nepal ratifying the Anti-trafficking Convention of Saarc just before the Dhaka meet, it is expected that the south Asian countries would soon implement the stringent provisions in their domestic laws.

She laid stress on providing a friendly environ to victims of trafficking and their training in useful vocations for repatriation and re-integration in their countries.