Activists Concerned Over Rise in the Number of Child Rape Cases in Sri Lanka

Women campaigners and activists have expressed concerns over a rise in the number of child rape cases in Sri Lanka involving the county's own government officials, according to a report.

Recently, a 13-year-old girl in Sri Lanka has identified four men, including a local government politician whom she accused of gang-raping her in the south of the country last month.

The incident is one of a series of alleged rapes, especially involving children, have been reported in alarming numbers. Police officials claim that over 700 minors have been victims since January.

According to The BBC, although no one has been tried yet, suspects in several cases include politicians from Sri Lanka's governing United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) coalition.

To date, 22 suspects have been remanded in the case of the 13-year-old girl, which also includes the urban councillor from the town of Tengalle, a millionaire businessman and owners or managers of several hotels.

In another incident, the UPFA head of the local council in the southern town of Akuressa has been remanded for alleged abuse of a girl, 14, at a guesthouse owned by him.

The Women and Media Collective (WMC), a campaign group, has reportedly denounced the alleged crimes, saying Sri Lanka is a society where "perpetrators of heinous crimes against women and children can live with little fear of the law".

Child Development and Women's Affairs Minister Tissa Karaliyadda claimed that he has drawn up a draft letter tightening up laws against child abuse, including possible death sentences.

Source: ANI

Child Abuse, Assault Rampant in Indian Children's Homes

Sex abuse scandals and assault on children at orphanages and shelters in India have sounded alarms over the management of children's homes, many of which operate with little or no public supervision.

Brain Receptor for Fantasy Identified

A new transmitter substance in the brain best known as the illegal drug fantasy has been discovered by researchers.

Are We Ready to Perform Therapeutic Homicide?

An editorial stated that a new report from the province of Quebec that recommends medical assistance to die will reignite the debate over euthanasia in Canada.

Christianson Syndrome

Christianson syndrome is a condition that occurs due to mutations (abnormal changes) in the gene SLC9A6 that is present on X chromosome. It primarily affects the nervous system.

DNA Finger Printing

DNA fingerprinting is a technique which helps forensic scientists and legal experts solve crimes, identity thefts, legal suits and terrorism cases.

Sexual Deviance

Sexual deviance includes a range of abnormal sexual expression from fetishism, cross dressing, sexual sadomasochism to pedophilia, incest and rape at the extreme end of the continuum.