Death of 23 year old ‘gang raped’, Ban Ki-moon Takes Action

Violence against women must never be accepted, excused or tolerated, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said following the death of a young woman from India who had been gang raped earlier this month.

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on death of Delhi student

The Secretary-General expresses deep sorrow at the death of the 23-year old Delhi student who was gang-raped by six men in a moving bus in New Delhi on 16 December. He offers his sincerest condolences to her parents, family and friends, and utterly condemns this brutal crime. Violence against women must never be accepted, never excused, never tolerated. Every girl and woman has the right to be respected, valued and protected.

The Secretary-General welcomes the efforts of the Government of India to take urgent action and calls for further steps and reforms to deter such crimes and bring perpetrators to justice. He also encourages the Government of India to strengthen critical services for rape victims. UN Women and other parts of the United Nations stand ready to support such reform efforts with technical expertise and other support as required.

The 23-year-old student was raped by six men while on board a bus in New Delhi on 16 December. She suffered severe injuries and was being treated at a hospital in Singapore where she died on Saturday.

A young woman who was gang-raped and assaulted on a moving bus in the Indian capital was flown Thursday to a Singapore hospital for treatment of severe internal injuries that could last several weeks, officials said.

The 23-year-old student, who is in critical condition, arrived in Singapore on an air ambulance and was admitted to the Mount Elizabeth hospital, renowned for multi-organ transplant facilities.

The hospital said in a statement that she was admitted to the intensive care unit “in an extremely critical condition.” It said “she is being examined and the hospital is working with the Indian High Commission (embassy).”

The Dec. 16 rape of the woman and her brutal beating triggered widespread protests in New Delhi and other parts of the country and calls for the death penalty for the perpetrators of rape. It is punishable by up to life in prison.

All six suspects in the case have been arrested.

The rape has highlighted the extensive harassment that Indian women face daily in cities and towns, ranging from unwanted hands being placed on them to being blamed for causing the sexual violence. Even rape victims rarely come forward to complain because of the social stigma. Many women say they have structured their entire lives around protecting themselves and their children, and restricting their movements to avoid being molested. READ MORE

In a statement condemning the crime, Mr. Ban offered his sincerest condolences to the woman’s family and friends.
The Secretary-General has welcomed India’s efforts to take urgent action and called for further steps and reforms to deter such crimes and bring perpetrators to justice.

He said UN Women and other parts of the United Nations stand ready to support such reform, for example through technical expertise.

Dianne Penn, United Nations RADIO.

Pillay urges fundamental changes in wake of India rape tragedy

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Monday expressed her deep sadness at the death of …. NEWSPILLAY, 31Dec – RADIO

SINGAPORE — An Indian woman who was gang-raped and beaten on a bus in New Delhi died Saturday at a Singapore hospital, after her ordeal galvanized Indians to demand greater protection for women from sexual violence that impacts thousands of them every day.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he was aware of the emotions the attack has stirred and that it was up to all Indians to ensure that the young woman’s death will not have been in vain.

The victim “passed away peacefully” with her family and officials of the Indian Embassy by her side, Dr. Kevin Loh, the chief executive of Mount Elizabeth hospital, said in a statement. READ MORE