New Delhi, Aug 6 - Referring to the political hullabaloo in Uttar Pradesh last month when state Chief Minister Mayawati was accused of not providing enough security to women and not enough compensation to rape victims, NGOs here said that no amount of compensation to a rape victim can reassure a woman about her safety.

In a consultation organised by the Centre for Social Research (CSR) Thursday, its director Ranjana Kumari said that mere compensation to rape victims, without implementing stronger laws to tackle sexual offence towards women, holds no meaning.

'A steep rise in the cases of sexual harassment indicates a weak security system. Rape has now become an issue to be used politically to make disgusting statements and score political points. The protectors of law and order should at least tackle sexual offences with more sensitivity and care,' she said.

According to CSR, on an average, a woman is raped every hour in the country, out of which only one in 70 cases get reported.