Maliwal equates prostitution with rape

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson, Swati Maliwal, on Tuesday deprecated society’s attitude to prostitution, which she said supports ‘rape’ of sex workers.Equating prostitution with rape, she said it was a “blot” on society and needed to be eradicated with a stronger response by the State. Referring to the number of condoms being reportedly distributed in the redlight area of G B Road every month, Maliwal said, “Six lakh condoms means six lakh rapes we are allowing in Delhi.”

“The figure could be much more as the cases of minor girls are not reported. Strangely, I found that it is being accepted by people in a way. I have spoken to a lot of people about it after visiting GB Road, and they said if you get the red light area closed, rapes will increase. I condemn such mindset,” she said speaking at a National Consultation on Human Trafficking on Indo-Nepal Border; Post Earthquake Perspective.

She said sustained efforts are needed to improve the condition of the State run protection homes where rescued girls are lodged.“I have heard that the condition of the Protection Home is so bad that sometimes rescued girls want to go back to G B Road and I am committed to improve the condition of these homes”, Mailwal said.

She said after taking charge as the Chairperson of DCW, she has taken a pledge to resolve the problems of the residents of G B Road area over the next three years. She said the soon to be launched Trafficking Committee of DCW will work together with the Centre, State and NGOs on the issues related to trafficking.

“Also, the Superitendents don’t get changed in 25 years, which indicates a big nexus. We will work on these aspects and submit our recommendations and pursue them till they are accepted,” she said.In order to check exploitation of domestic helps, DCW will launch a drive for inspecting all placement agencies in Delhi, find out if they are registered, and seek record of girls looking for jobs through them.

Referring to the murder of 19-year-old Meenakshi, who was stabbed multiple times by man in Anand Parbat, Maliwal said, “We wish to undertake a study on women safety in Delhi and come up with recommendations for the Central, the State Government and Delhi Police.“For this we will be taking Anand Parbat as a pilot area and request the police to provide us with the details of all complaints received at the police station and whether FIRs have been lodged and, if yes, the status of those cases,” she said.

Maliwal has also written to Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi asking him to furnish information about “increasing” complaints of crimes against women. Maliwal further said that the crimes happening against women are a social evil and sought comprehensive engagement of the society to prevent them.