UNICEF India condemns rape of five-year-old

New Delhi, April 20 (IANS) UNICEF India Saturday condemned the rape of a five-year-old girl here and called for stronger and immediate action to improve safety for girls in the country.

"The rape that took place in the past days in Delhi where a five-year-old girl is now fighting for her life, is yet another sign that urgent and concerted action is needed to make sure that girls and women in India can feel and be safe on the streets, in school, at work and at home," the organisation said in a statement.

"While the child is fighting for her life, UNICEF expresses its heartfelt sympathy with the family of the young girl and shares hopes for her full recovery," it said.

"In many parts of society in India, girls are often seen as liabilities and have little to say about their lives," it added.

UNICEF said that girls and women need to be valued, respected and made to feel safe not only in their their homes but also in public spaces.

The organisation added that recently published data shows that over 30,000 crimes were committed against children in India in 2011. The data shows that one in three of rape victims is a child. More than 7,200 children, including infants, are reported raped every year.