Victims who suffer by crime or abuse of power are deprived of the normal
quality of enjoyment of life and sometimes face threat to their well being
and safety. All victims have a right to seek help and protection from the
State as their fundamental right included in Article 21 which guarantees to
every person protection of his “life and personal liberty”.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as the basic document adopted
by the United Nations Organisation in 1948, recognises the right of every
individual to all human freedoms and a life with dignity. It is therefore the
moral and legal obligation of the State not only to refrain from interference
with these freedoms but it is also its duty to facilitate the individual to
realise such freedoms by lawful means.
C. The Process
The victim of a crime sets the criminal justice mechanism in motion by
giving information to the police which is expected to reduce it to writing.
The most common and frequent problem faced by many of the victims
while reporting a case, is absence of a receptive and a sympathetic attitude
of the police towards the victims. The traumatised victim comes to the
police station with great mental stress. He is often treated with total lack
of courtesy and sensitivity. Victims experience great difficulties in getting
cases registered. The problem is compounded when the victim happens to
be from the weaker section of the society or from a low socio- economic
background. Even after registration, many a time’s investigation is done
carelessly and the investigation officer does not feel obliged to share the
progress of the case with the victim.
D. Women as Victims of Crime
Police officers should always ensure that their actions guarantee that
women are treated with dignity and respect. They have a very important
role to play in the protection of women, beginning with recognition of
their exclusion from many areas of life, their inadequate voice, and their
vulnerability to abuse within and outside of the family. 33
Violence against women can be physical, sexual or psychological, and
includes beating, sexual abuse, rape, harmful traditional practices, sexual
harassment, forced prostitution, trafficking in women and exploitationrelated violence. Violence against women, in all its forms, violates and
33
Commonwealth Human Rights Manual for Police Personnel, 2005
Manual on Human Rights for Police Officers
53