"But having the laws in place are only one part of the solution - their implementation also matters as does changing mind-sets. Violence against women and girls is preventable, not inevitable. Sustained implementation of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2012 and the setting up of Special Courts and child friendly procedures for victims under 18 years of age are also key priorities," Grande added.
The latest brutal act of violence against the girls in UP also highlights the dangers girls and women all over India are exposed to due to the lack of toilets.
UNICEF's Representative to India Louis-Georges Arsenault said around 65 per cent of rural population in India defecates in the open and women and girls are expected to go out at night. "This does not only threaten their dignity, but their safety as well," Arsenault said.
Last week, the UN had described as a "horrendous crime" and strongly condemned the incident and stressed that all citizens should be protected by the law.
