New Delhi, Apr 24 (IANS): The United Nations has deplored the continuing cases of sexual violence in India, including the rape of a five-year-old girl in Delhi.

"The UN Women strongly deplores the continuing cases of sexual violence against women and girls, including the barbaric rape of a five-year-old girl child in Delhi," UN Women said in a statement.

"This brutal act of violence on an innocent girl child defies the very basic tenets of human rights enshrined in the Indian constitution and the United Nations Charter. We stress the urgent need to promote and protect the rights of girls around India," it added.

The statement said: "UN Women joins the government, civil society and UN agencies in calling for focused and time-bound public action against the perpetrators. It also urges for the speedy application of the recently passed Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013."

It asked "police to be more accountable and responsive. It is unacceptable that 73 percent of women do not feel safe in their own surroundings in Delhi, as was reported by a UN Women study".

The international group said that violence against women and girls must end. "Protection has to go hand-in-hand with prevention to bring about a complete change in mindsets. Involving young men is essential to make this difference and requires consistent efforts. India needs to build a comprehensive and long-term plan for prevention of violence against women."

"We hope for the full and speedy recovery of the girl and call for the perpetrators to be punished," the statement said.

A five-year old girl was brutally raped by two men and left locked up in a room in east Delhi's Gandhi Nagar area last week. Both the accused have been arrested from Bihar.