Naypyidaw Victoria rape case

Naypyidaw Victoria Rape Case refers to the rape of a 2-year-and-11-month-old girl, nicknamed Victoria, believed to have happened in Wisdom Hill Nursery School in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, which sparked national outrage. The police filed a case at court against a driver who worked in nursery but DNA evidence obtained during the evidence did not match him.[1] Thousands of people marched to Criminal Investigation Department on 6 July 2019 to show their dissatisfaction with the police handling of the case.[2] State leaders have verbally instructed officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Myanmar Police Force (MPF) to bring the case before the courts.[3]

Incident

Victoria came back from school, Wisdom Hill Private Pre-School, on 16 May 2019 with injuries that a doctor from a public hospital confirmed were the result of rape.[4] Her mother filed a complaint with police on the following day.[5]

Aftermath

The government closed seven nurseries schools in Naypyidaw following the case. Many citizens changed their Facebook profile picture to a silhouette of a little girl with the title "Justice for Victoria" to demand justice be served in the case.[4] Rising public pressure on social media forced the government to pledge that the case will be resolved in a timely manner.[5]

On 1 July 2019, Department of Social Welfare shut down 15 nurseries across Naypyitaw that were operating without proper licenses, including Wisdom Hill.[5]

Nationwide protests

Social media users have criticised the lack of haste and professionalism of the police response, underscoring a lack of trust in the authorities in a country still emerging from decades of military rule.[6]

Many people in Myanmar took to Facebook to say Aung Gyi was wrongfully accused, and that the actual culprit was at large.[7]

Yangon
The march to demand the justice for Victoria, in Yangon

On 6 July 2019, thousands of protesters marched to a police office in Yangon, demanding speedy and transparent justice in a child-rape case that has sparked national outrage. Organisers estimated as many as 6,000 protesters gathered at the Yangon office of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) wearing white T-shirts, some printed with the words "Justice for Victoria".[8][9]

References
  1. "Deputy Police Chief Defends Handling of Toddler Sexual Assault Case". The Irrawaddy. 5 July 2019.
  2. "Thousands protest Myanmar child rape". Bangkok Post. 6 July 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  3. Thein, Aung Min (1 July 2019). "State leaders order justice for sexually abused child in Nay Pyi Taw". Eleven Media Group.
  4. "Myanmar shuts nurseries, makes arrest in rape of 2-year-old". Straits Times. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  5. "Govt Pledges Truth will be Revealed in Toddler Rape Case". The Irrawaddy. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  6. "Protesters in Myanmar demand justice after 2-year-old raped". The Washington Post. 6 July 2019. Archived from the original on 6 July 2019.
  7. "Protesters in Myanmar demand justice after 2-year-old raped". Aljazeera. 6 July 2019.
  8. "Protesters in Myanmar demand justice after 2-year-old was allegedly raped". The Japan Times. 6 July 2019.
  9. "Thousands protest amid outcry over Myanmar child-rape case". CNA. 6 July 2019.
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