| ACR Weekly Newsletter Vol.1, No.1 | ||
| SRI LANKA: A 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL RAPED BY HER FATHER |
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Appeal Feature Article What you Can do Important Links
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Sandamalee (13) was raped by her father (37 years old) for the first time on 2nd September 2002. She revealed her story on 26th September 2002 when her mother caught her husband raping their daughter on the night of that fateful day. Sadamalee was raped more than 6 times, by her father, between 2nd and 26th September 2002. Sadamalee’s father was arrested after her mother lodged a complaint with the police. However, Sadamalee has been forced to quit school because she fears both her life and that of her mother. A human rights group in Sri Lanka has been helping the family by making arrangements to ensure the family's safety and Sadamalee's return to school. However, this has not eased the fear of the mother and daughter who live in constant fear of an attack from the father. The state too has no programs to help victims of rape and ensure their protection. There is also fear that a proper investigation will not take place and the incident will die down as 'just another' instance of family trouble. The human rights group helping the family is demanding that the state take greater responsibility for the protection and deliver justice to Sadamalee and her family. It needs your help to ensure that Sadamalee does not get left on the sidelines as just 'another' child victim of parental rape. |
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| INDIA'S KILLING FIREWORKS FACTORIES |
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November 4th- The Indian festival of lights is celebrated with grandeur in every home complete with the burning of fireworks, rich food and new clothes. However, this period is the worst time for the 50,000 to 100,000 child workers working in the 2,700 to 3,000 match and fireworks units in Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu and the innumerable other child workers in other firework factories in India. The Sivakasi firework factories alone produce 90% of India's fireworks and 75% of it's matches. There are as many as 6000 unregistered "safety-match" industries in and around Sivakasi. It is estimated that 55 percent of the workers are below 14 years. Many begin working at age five to seven. Children dye outer paper, roll gunpowder, make firecrackers, dip material into chemicals, and pack the final products for seven to twelve hours a day every day. They work in cramped, dark sheds in crouched positions and are exposed to dangerous chemicals such as chlorates, phosphorous and sulphur. There is a constant risk of fire and explosions, yet the children wear no protective gear. Local doctors report that children suffer from chronic bronchitis, broncho-pneumonia, tuberculosis, malnutrition, gastrointestinal disorders, skin disorders, over-exhaustion, burns, water borne diseases and eye infections. Harsh treatment by employers is common, and girls as young as seven and eight are reportedly sexually assaulted by supervisors outside of factory premises. September 1995, 23 children were charred to death in a firework factory near Calcutta in India. Instances of this kind are not rare. However, in spite of reoccurrences, nothing has changed, little hands still continue to make diwali crackers.
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What you can do |
Working towards a solution: Protection for Sadamalee and her family | |
| Write an Appeal Letter to authorities in Sri Lanka and express your concern over the need to provide protection to Sadamalee and her family and also initiate programs in order to address victims of rape instead of further victimizing them. |