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Delhi gang rape: Panel backs reforming trials Delhi gang rape: Panel backs reforming trials
(about 1 hour later)
A commission set up to suggest reforms to India's rape laws after last month's gang rape of a student has called for faster trials with women judges.A commission set up to suggest reforms to India's rape laws after last month's gang rape of a student has called for faster trials with women judges.
The three-member panel, led by former chief justice JS Verma, submitted its report to the government on Wednesday. The panel, led by former chief justice JS Verma, also called for longer sentences but not the death penalty.
India's law minister said the report would get "government attention" soon.India's law minister said the report would get "government attention" soon.
The brutal assault of the 23-year-old student in Delhi in December shocked India and sparked a debate about the treatment of women. The brutal assault on the 23-year-old student in Delhi in December shocked India and sparked a debate about the treatment of women.
In its report, recommended quick trials and faster processing of appeals in cases of crimes against women. Justice Verma said his three-member commission had received 80,000 responses from India and abroad on how to reform rape laws.
It also urged more accountability for the police, better implementation of laws and the need for a change in the mindset of law-enforcers. Among the recommendations of the report, submitted to the home ministry on Wednesday, were
Justice Verma said they had received 80,000 responses from India and abroad on how to reform rape laws.
  • broadening of the definition of what constituted sexual assault
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  • quicker trials and faster processing of appeals in cases of crimes against women
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  • more accountability for the police
  • better implementation of laws and the need for a change in the mindset of law-enforcers
  • strong action against those found guilty of trafficking and against security forces convicted of sexual assault in conflict zones.
    •
The panel also recommended that those found guilty of rape leading to death spend the rest of their life in prison, but it stopped short of calling for the death penalty, something which many in India had pushed for, the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder reports from Delhi.
"What is needed to enforce laws is the sensitivity on the part of those who implement it," he told a press conference after submitting the report to the home ministry in Delhi."What is needed to enforce laws is the sensitivity on the part of those who implement it," he told a press conference after submitting the report to the home ministry in Delhi.
"The state's role is not just punishing criminals but also to prevent crimes against women," he said."The state's role is not just punishing criminals but also to prevent crimes against women," he said.
'Institutional bias''Institutional bias'
Justice Leila Seth, another member of the commission, said police "don't take complaints of rape victims seriously".Justice Leila Seth, another member of the commission, said police "don't take complaints of rape victims seriously".
"There is institutional bias against the weaker sections of society", she said. "There is institutional bias against the weaker sections of society," she said.
The Verma committee also looked at marital rapes and physical, sexual and psychological violence in the family.The Verma committee also looked at marital rapes and physical, sexual and psychological violence in the family.
Justice Verma said he hoped that the report would be taken seriously by the government.Justice Verma said he hoped that the report would be taken seriously by the government.
The student raped in December, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was attacked after boarding a bus in south Delhi with a male friend.The student raped in December, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was attacked after boarding a bus in south Delhi with a male friend.
Police said the assailants beat both of them, and then raped the woman. She suffered massive internal injuries and died nearly two weeks later.Police said the assailants beat both of them, and then raped the woman. She suffered massive internal injuries and died nearly two weeks later.
The incident led to nationwide protests against the treatment of women in India. Campaigners called for tougher rape laws and reforms to the police, who have been accused of often failing to file charges against attackers.The incident led to nationwide protests against the treatment of women in India. Campaigners called for tougher rape laws and reforms to the police, who have been accused of often failing to file charges against attackers.
Earlier this week week, the trial of five men held for the crime began at a specially convened fast-track court. Earlier this week, the trial of five men held for the crime began at a specially convened fast-track court.
If convicted, the men could face the death penalty. A sixth suspect, who is thought to be 17, is expected to be tried by a juvenile court.If convicted, the men could face the death penalty. A sixth suspect, who is thought to be 17, is expected to be tried by a juvenile court.
The government has said it will bring in stronger sexual assault laws and has established several committees to recommend changes.The government has said it will bring in stronger sexual assault laws and has established several committees to recommend changes.
It has also promised to fast-track future rape cases. Legal proceedings in India sometimes involve years of delays.It has also promised to fast-track future rape cases. Legal proceedings in India sometimes involve years of delays.
There are believed to be about 95,000 rape cases pending nationwide, according to Ranjana Kumari, a women's activist.There are believed to be about 95,000 rape cases pending nationwide, according to Ranjana Kumari, a women's activist.