Chief Justice DY Chandrachud: Strict warning on discrimination and sexual violence against disabled children

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud: Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Saturday (September 28, 2024) highlighted sexual violence against women with disabilities, especially children living at the margins of society.

DY Chandrachud: Chief Justice DY Chandrachud spoke on the issue while addressing the National Annual Stakeholder Consultation on Child Protection in New Delhi. Meanwhile, speaking on 'protective services for children with disabilities' she said that they are considered easy targets for sexual violence.

The Chief Justice said this

The Chief Justice said that girls with disabilities who face sexual violence face a double blow. This means that women with disabilities are often considered 'easy targets' for sexual violence. Apart from this, he is not able to say anything about the crime committed against him.

'Collective effort required'

The Chief Justice said disability is often conflated with other marginalized identities such as gender, caste, socio-economic status and ethnicity, leading to discrimination against children. He said that the needs of persons with disabilities are still in many cases seen as a private, household issue rather than a collective, social responsibility. Social organizations often fail to provide the support that is actually needed.

'The effect of the rules is limited'

He further said that laws such as the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act have acknowledged the vulnerabilities of children with disabilities, but their impact at the ground level has been limited. “The framework remains largely reactive, emphasizing post-crime punishment rather than proactive prevention, support and rehabilitation,” the Chief Justice said.