Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said that in seven out of 10 sexual abuses cases, the perpetrators are known to the victim, PTI reported. She said the law enforcement agencies will have to be far more proactive.

Sitharaman was speaking at an event organised at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi, where she released the Gender Parity Survey Report. “Out of every 10 such incidents, seven are committed by people who know the victim – relative, friends, neighbour,” she said.

The defence minister said it will have to be ensured that women’s legislation is taken up actively. “But above all, in any country for that matter, what are the efforts that can be done by an external agency when you have known people absolutely violating women?” she added.

She further said that it was ridiculous to claim that the way a woman dresses was the reason behind a rape. “Then why does rape happen of elderly people? Why does rape happen of toddlers?” she said, according to ANI.