May 2018
On May 10, 2018, Rising Flame also conducted legal training on sexual violence and access to justice for the Special Unit for Women and Children of Delhi Police. 35 investigating officers, inspectors, and sub-inspectors were present at the training. Rising Flame conducted the training at the invitation of Human Rights Watch, a global human rights organization whose April 2018 report “Invisible Victims of Sexual Violence: Access to Justice for Women and Girls with Disabilities in India,” co-authored by Rising Flame Director, Nidhi Goyal, found access to justice is particularly difficult for women and girls with disabilities.
Five years after criminal law amendments in India addressed the needs of women and girls with disabilities, this research includes over 100 interviews, following 17 cases of rape and gang rape of women and girls with disabilities through the various stages of the justice system: reporting to police, obtaining medical treatment, navigating courts, and securing compensation.
The first to consider the specific needs of women and girls with disabilities in cases of sexual violence, over two years of research, this report addressed a range of critical issues: high risk of sexual violence in India; and stigma around sexuality and disability that undermines access to justice at all stages of the process.
This training marked the commencement of Rising Flame’s access to justice work.