STRUGGLES: HIDDEN AND VISIBLE

The real challenges lie in operationalising these crisis centers, staffing these centers and training personnel deputed in these centers. It was felt that detail operational guidelines must be laid down, staff recruited and trained adequately not only in skill but also perspective and attitudes before they are assigned to run these centers. These centers should not be restricted only to district headquarters and cities but to panchayats as well. Accountability mechanisms and punishment for lapses must be clearly fixed before the centers start operating. Further, centers must be equipped to provide shelter to the survivors. The role envisaged for OSC's are one of primarily providing in the first instance medical examination and lodging FIR and later on also supporting the survivors with trauma counseling and fighting the judicial battle for justice and conviction to the criminals. It was strongly argued by members that OSCCs are important since this is the first time the State / Government has taken on itself the responsibility to be accountable for rape and sexual assault and provide every possible support to the survivors of gender-based violence. So it is a step forward in making society violence-free. However, it was cautioned that these centers are only crisis support institutions and not the “one-stop rape solution centers” because it must be understood that with the opening of these centres rape and sexual assault will not come to an end! It is only a means of making the police more accessible, judiciary more sensitive and doctors more responsive. These centers will go a long way in making rape a public crime that women need not have to hide and be ashamed of or bear the burden of for the rest of their lives! Thus hopelessness should not lead to inaction and men as and women have a great role to play in not only making the centers function responsively and responsibly, but also in public dialogue and engagement on rape and sexual assault along with patriarchy to challenge the structures that lead to rape and sexual assault in the first place. Therefore challenging the concepts of masculinity and engendering the police, doctors, judiciary, nurses, officials, etc must also become a part of larger campaign to end sexual assault and rape.