Activists demand Pinki Pramanik case must be treated with gender sensitivity
By Team FI
Human rights and LGBT activists in India have launched a signature campaign in support of Asian Games gold medalist athlete Pinki Pramanik, who was arrested on the charge of ‘raping’ her live-in-partner.
The activists have severely criticised the treatment given to Pinki Pramanik by the administration and media following her arrest. The 26-year-old athlete was arrested on 14th June after her live-in partner complained to the West Bengal police of Pinki being a male and raping her. The middle distance runner who bagged several medals for India in various athletic competitions was remanded to a 14 day judicial custody by the court on 15th June.
Following the arrest, the media frenzy resulted in various allegations towards Pinki’s “rough” and “manly” behavior. Pinki who was employed by Eastern Railway as a ticket collector, has been served suspension order following the arrest.
The following petition was released by activists
On Thursday 14 June, 2012 Pinki Pramanik, Asian Games gold medalist athlete, was formally arrested by Baguiati Police on the charge of being a male and held for alleged rape. Since then Pinki has been isolated from both support groups and her own family. She was not allowed to meet her father or interact with various human rights groups that have reached out to her like Kolkata based activist group Sappho for equality in spite of repeated pleas by Pinki for intervention. During her time in custody, Pinki has refused to undergo gender tests without due course and diligence.
However, on Saturday, 16 June, an unauthorized gender test was conducted on Pinki in a private clinic after which the police called a press conference declaring her a male. During this test, there were no women police, nor a state gynecologist, endocrinologist or counselors present. In all sex determination tests, it is mandatory to have at least two of the above mentioned. After this gross violation of human rights, Pinki was prejudged guilty by the way she has been treated and paraded before the media.
Pinki continues to insist that she is a woman and has appealed to be treated as such until proven otherwise.
She is now to appear for a second gender test and we the undersigned demand that these violations be brought to a complete halt. In accordance with the prevalent human rights practices with regards to gender determination tests that have been conducted on other athletes whose gender has come under scrutiny, we demand that the presence of a gynecologist, a counselor for intersex, trans-gender people and an endocrinologist be made mandatory for the test along with the presence of woman police.
Sign petition here
Featured Photo Courtesy: Mirror UK