Le ministère des Droits de la Femme ne respecterait pas un protocole autour de certaines pratiques lorsqu’une femme est victime de viol. Le Muvman Liberasyon Fam a écrit à la ministre de tutelle, Indira Seeburn, à cet effet.

«Ce protocole a trait à des règles précises lorsqu’une femme est victime de viol. Auparavant, une femme devait se rendre à la station de police de sa localité. Ensuite aux Casernes centrales pour se faire ausculter par un médecin de la police. Et enfin à l’hôpital pour un examen médical. Sous l’ancien gouvernement, la ministre des Droits de la Femme s’était engagée à mettre une Sexual Asssaults Unit dans les hôpitaux. Mais, dans les faits, il semblerait que cela ne se soit pas concrétisé. Lorsque Mme Seeburn a pris ce ministère, nous avons formulé la même demande en février 2006. Et en mars 2006, elle annonçait la création de ces unités dans les hôpitaux. Mais il nous semble que cette structure n’est pas toujours en opération ou alors ceux concernés, dans les hôpitaux et au niveau de la police, ne sont pas au courant de ces nouveaux procédés. Car les femmes violées continuent à suivre le parcours traditionnel. Soit la station de police, les Casernes centrales et l’hôpital», explique Rajni Lallah, secrétaire du Muvman Liberasyon Fam.

Elle estime que le ministère des Droits de la Femme devrait organiser une campagne pour sensibiliser les gens, le personnel hospitalier et la police sur l’existence de cette structure, si elle existe effectivement.

Ci-dessous la lettre envoyée par le mouvement à la ministre Seeburn.

Muvman Liberasyon Fam
Registered Association No. 1595
C/o Secretary Rajni Lallah
1a, La Croix St, Forest Side
3rd October, 2009
Ms Indira Seebun
The Minister of Women’s Rights
CSK Building,
Cnr Emmanuel & Remy Ollier Strs
Port Louis

Dear Madam,

We draw your attention to the fact that according to press reports, the protocol for victims of sexual violence that you announced would become operational in March 2006 (see annex 1) is NO LONGER operational. We annex a copy of a press article showing that a raped woman was NOT referred to a “Sexual Assault Unit”, but had to go through the traumatic experience of going to the police station for her statement, and being taken to the Casernes to be examined by the Police Medical Officer instead of being referred to the “Sexual Assault Unit” at the nearest regional hospital (see Annex 2).

You will surely remember that in February 2006 following our demand to you for re-instating Rape Crisis Units in all regional hospitals for victims of sexual violence, you set up a Protocol whereby all victims of sexual assault would be cared for in “Sexual Assault Units” set up in all regional hospitals in Mauritius. You announced the coming into operation of this Protocol in March 2006.

The logic of our demand as we stated in our letter (and that you agreed with) is that “victims of sexual violence, instead of becoming part of a police and prosecution mechanism, be given immediate medical treatment, psychological treatment, and preventive treatment for STDs including AIDS. At the same time, they are thus examined medically outside of the frightening police station environment, by a Police Medical Officer, and are able to give their statement, as already is the case, to a police-woman, but now in a caring, “medical” environment. We specifically made this demand because of the generally accepted “double trauma” of victims who, after having been sexually violated, are subjected to gruelling, protracted police procedures, much of this in the unsupportive and patriarchal environment of the police station.”

This is the second time that such a Protocol has “disappeared”. We explained to you that the previous government had set up two “Rape Crisis Units” in Victoria and Jeetoo Hospitals in 2003, and both “disappeared”. We warned you after you announced that the Protocol is being set up that if your Ministry did not take steps to popularize the existence and use of these units, they too, would disappear. In a formal letter to you dated 20th September, 2006, we wrote: “We would like to reiterate the further demand, as we discussed in the meeting, that a nation wide campaign be held, so that the public be informed about the existence of these units in support of rape victims in major hospitals. Otherwise the Sexual Assault Units will suffer the same plight as did the Rape Crisis Units instituted under the former Minister. The latter stopped existing, as any unit would, if their existence is not made known, although they are very badly needed when rape occurs.”

We call on you to intervene so that the Protocol becomes operational at once and that you take immediate steps to launch a campaign for women and all public officers concerned to know about this Protocol and to ensure the Protocol and that all Sexual Assault Units become a reality and stay operational.

Yours sincerely,
Rajni Lallah, Secretary, Muvman Liberasyon Fam