MARGAO
Taking strong exception to the disclosure of the identify of a minor girl victim by the Mahila Congress, Bailancho Ekvott President Auda Viegas on Tuesday demanded immediate action against the Mahila Congress president as per law to ensure no political party uses women in distress for its political mileage.
Auda further said she has written to the media organisations on the publication of the photograph of the victim’s mother as it was against
the law. Addressing the media, Auda protested against the message and photo of Mahila Congress members being circulated on WhatsApp by vested interests in which the identity of the child was disclosed in gross violation of the Principle of Right to Privacy and confidentiality which is one of the basic principles of the Juvenile Justice Act, one which is also protected by the POCSO Act. “No report in any media shall disclose the identity of the child, including name, address, photograph, family details, school, neigbourhood or any other aspect which may lead to identification,” she said, adding “struggling for the women of the state makes us also respect the rights of the victim.”
She said the police inspector as well as the investigating officer at the police station concerned had acted immediately and arrested the abuser of the minor child, with the police completing all formalities within a day. “I was a witness to the quick action of the police station concerned in South Goa under the supervision of the South Goa superintendent of police. One fails to understand the logic behind the publicity given to the issue by the Mahila Congress. Justice will be delivered now to the child by the court of law concerned,” she said.
Auda said all those who participated in the violation of the law are liable for action under the law except the parents who are ignorant and vulnerable and unaware of the laws in force in Goa and were probably misguided to remain present for the photograph.
“This is the second time that the identity of the victim has been disclosed by Mahila Congress by parading the victim/baby even in front of the press.”
