Perspectives of service providers who support women victims/survivors of sexual offenses in Goa, India

Abstract

Everyday practices in courts and police stations often reflect patriarchal norms, marginalizing women's perspectives and contributing to victim/survivor blaming and retraumatization. Most studies on Indian sexual violence laws focus on legal texts and court rulings, lacking insight into the everyday experiences of service providers and victims/survivors. We conducted an exploratory pilot study with a qualitative social constructivist approach to analyze the perspectives of 12 service providers who support adult women in sexual-offense-related legal trials in Goa, India. The findings revealed that many victims/survivors hesitate to report sexual violence because of negative perceptions of the system, stigma, apathy, and insufficient victim/survivor-friendly practices. The service providers experienced vicarious trauma and burnout because of resource limitations, and the state's reliance on nongovernmental organizations for psychosocial services limited victims'/survivors' access to justice. Similarly, systemic barriers, politicization and media sensationalism of sexual violence, and repetitive and lengthy legal procedures hindered victims'/survivors' access to justice, leading to hopelessness and secondary traumatization. Furthermore, media sensationalism and political agendas affect medicolegal authorities, and the pressure to settle cases, witness scarcity, and evidence-related issues affect legal decisions. In summary, these findings reinforce social psychological theories emphasizing the influence of societal discourses and structural hierarchies on individual experiences and perceptions, and they may help improve the therapeutic potential of the legal system. The authors suggest continued stakeholder training, structural reforms, and the integration of trauma-informed practices to create a survivor-centered legal system that aligns with therapeutic jurisprudence principles.