At 3, She Testified About Her Rape. Now, She Needs A School

(Swathi Sukumar is a practicing lawyer before the Delhi High Court and is the Country Director of iProbono, an organization that handled Amal's case before the High Court.)
In the life of a lawyer, few moments are more satisfying than when justice is done: a hard-fought, challenging court battle that ends well, changing the law of the land.
On Monday (October 13), the Delhi High Court delivered a landmark judgment in a case involving the sexual assault of a 3-year-old child we call Amal. The daughter of construction workers, she was raped by a neighbor and the assault left her with wounds that would require at least three reconstructive surgeries. 

In February, a Delhi trial court dismissed Amal's clear testimony on the basis that she was an incompetent witness, and disregarded her repeated identification of her rapist. 
On appeal, the Delhi High Court reversed the trial court's decision and held that there were no circumstances to disregard the child's evidence. The Court laid down detailed guidelines on how a child ought to be interviewed. The decision will undoubtedly lead to more sensitive treatment of children within the criminal justice system and will encourage fair trials. In every way, the verdict is a grand victory.
This is a story of the triumph of good over evil. This is a story of what competent lawyers can do for a cause. But it is also a story of the extraordinary resilience and strength of one woman: Amal's mother, Munira (not her real name).
Since 2012, when Amal was assaulted, Munira, 24, and by any measure severely under-weight at just 40 kgs, has been the sole care-giver for her three children. Her neighbours turned against her early into the police investigation which included violent interrogation.

Amal's father suffers from a mild mental disability and Munira's in-laws wanted to have nothing to do with Amal, by then a 4-year-old who was forced, as a result of her sexual assault, to carry around a colostomy bag that hung outside her body to manage her digestive functions.

Munira worked 10-hours a day at construction sites, on as many days as she could find someone willing to employ her, to support her three children, the oldest of whom was Amal. Munira has personally visited the police station, the Magistrate's court and sat through an entire criminal trial with no family support and no money. 

In the course of her cross-examination, Amal was asked to show how she was raped and Munira's heart broke, but she remained dignified and resolute in her endeavor to get justice for her daughter. Amal was asked in court "Gudiya tum jhoot bol rahi ho (child, you are lying, right?) True or not?" When Munira asked the court to see the evidence, she was told, "Don't interrupt."
It was Munira's exceptional strength that brought her to the doors of lawyers in August to file an appeal on her child's behalf. Above all, it was her faith in the law that drove her to continue fighting when the future looked bleak. We must celebrate the fact that this outstanding woman has been successful in navigating our complex and intimidating legal system.
Munira's family has been relocated to a safer area, so Amal can access prompt medical help. But Munira is out of work and her daughter is still not in school because of her medical condition. Munira's illiteracy compounds her inability to seek a better quality of life for her family, which has already undergone severe hardships that have damaged the fabric of their lives.
Munira is looking for employment that will allow her to support her family, once Amal is declared medically fit to attend school. iProbono is trying to secure admission for Amal and her younger brothers in a school that will give them the attention that they deserve. If you're interested in helping Amal's family by offering Munira employment, or school admission for the children, or donating to Amal's family please send in your pledge at HopeForAmal@i-probono.com. Once we receive your pledge, we will contact you with further information on how the contribution will be accepted. Story First Published: October 17, 2014 19:30 IST

Osteoporosis risk higher than heart attack among women

LAHORE: Medical and health experts say 30pc to 50pc of women and 15pc to 30pc of men are likely to suffer a fracture related to osteoporosis in their lifetime.

They were referring to the statistics of the International Osteoporosis Foundation during a seminar organised by a pharmaceutical company in connection with the World Osteoporosis Day at a local hotel here on Friday. The World Osteoporosis Day is observed on Oct 20 every year.

The health experts said worldwide fracture incidences were two to threefold higher than heart attack, stroke and breast cancer among women.

Punjab Health Director General Dr Zahid Pervaiz said of all the complications experienced by the females after their menopause, none was more devastating than osteoporosis. He said the major consequence of the disease was a fracture which was very distressing, leading to high cost, long bed period and dependency on others.

“The risk factors for fracture include low bone mass density, advancing age, history of fracture over age of 50, family history of hip fracture, long-term use of steroids, rheumatoid arthritis and smoking,” Dr Pervaiz said.

Advisor to Chief Minister on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique said the problem had significant economic consequences and high burden of fracture fixation and hospitalisation cost.

“In Pakistan, we have seen rising number of fractures reported, which can be controlled with early diagnosis and prevention of osteoporosis which majority of time is the root of a fracture,” he said.

The medical experts stressed prevention and awareness drives which, according to them, were the only better way to prevent osteoporosis.

Prof Aftab Ahmad, Prof Nader M Akhter, Prof Abu Bakar, Prof Shafique Ahmed Shafaq, Dr Omer Adil and Dr Mazhar Iqbal Chaudhry were also present.

MoU on research: The University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore, and the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS), Jamshoro, Sindh, have entered into an agreement to collaborate in research and academics.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed here on Friday by UHS Vice Chancellor retired Maj Gen Prof Muhammad Aslam and LUMHS vice-chancellor Prof Dr Noshad Ahmed Shaikh.

The MoU envisages strengthening of bonds between the two institutions to promote cultural and scholarly interaction, exchange students, teachers, scholars and administrations for study and research, develop curricula and to start programmes for capacity building.

Under the agreement, both institutions will develop research quality in the field of epidemiology and public health besides exploring the opportunity to launch special short term academic programmes and projects for students. Exchange of examination questions is also a part of the agreement.

The UHS vice-chancellor said they would try to transform the MoU into a memorandum of action.

The LUMHS vice-chancellor called it a historical step which would go a long way in improving standard of medical education and research in the county. He said collective efforts are always better than individual efforts and invited UHS faculty to start joint research project using the facilities available at LUMHS.

Later, the delegation visited various departments of the university.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2014