DNA as evidence

Cheers to Vera Files for a two-part investigative report on  the plight of rape victims in the country.

The March 5 investigative report “Systemic silencing: Little incentive to cry ‘rape!’” (http://verafiles.org/systemic-silencing-little-incentive-to-cry-rape/) and “Few rape cases filed, prosper” on March 6 (http://verafiles.org/12466/) found that many rape cases in the country do not reach the courts because the “lack of coordination among medical and law enforcement personnel and ignorance and laziness of policemen and prosecutors result in crucial rape evidence rotting away in storerooms.” Lack of coordination among the relevant agencies is one reason why DNA samples are rarely used as evidence in criminal proceedings. Inadequate facilities for DNA evaluation is another.

The report also noted the poor condition of Women and Children Protection Units (WCPU) in hospitals.  WCPUs are supposed to assist rape victims in seeking medical examinations for use as evidence.