Laya Madduri flags off 16 days of campaign journey against gender based violence

November 25: Social activist Sanalembi Devi and survivor of domestic violence and gang rape Sumana Roy have started a Campaign Journey from 25 November, 2019 to 10 December 2019.The aim of this Campaign Journey is to travel through different districts of Assam in order to create awareness on women’s rights, prevention and elimination of violence against women in Assam.

In this connection, a “Flag Off Ceremony” was organized with the support of ‘One Stop Centre, Silchar’ and ‘Seva Kendra Silchar.’ The Campaign Journey was flagged off by Laya Madduri, Deputy Commissioner, Cachar from the office of the ‘One Stop Centre, Silchar’ at Panchayat Road, Silchar. However, before that, Centre Administrator of One Stop delivered the welcome address.

This was followed by a briefing of the campaign journey by Sanalembi Devi. In her speech sahe said, “During this journey they are planning to meet Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, Protection Officer, Secretary District Legal Services Authority etc. of the concerned visiting Districts to discuss about the issue of Violence Against Women and women empowerment in the respective visiting district. They will represent a charter of demand to concern departments to call for prevention and elimination of Violence against Women and Empowerment of all women and girls.”

Speaking during the occasion, DC Madduri said, “Violence against women, as per NCRB records, continues to remain one of the major social evils across the country. Reports also clearly indicate that overwhelming majority of such crimes are perpetrated by people close to the victims. What’s more unfortunate is that the victims often face the double victimisation in form of social sanctions and lack of cooperation from social and legal structures. The need of the hour is to spread awareness.”

During the open discussion session, the women survivors narrated their tales. The struggle of survivors shows that the women survivor has to fight for survival (both economic and social struggle for dignity) along with their legal battle. There is need of strong social security measures to support the rehabilitation of women survivors and prevent crime against women and create equal opportunity for women empowerment. Therefore there is need of more coordinated and collective effort to prevent and eliminate Violence against Women.

16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence is an international campaign that takes place each year. It commences on 25th November, the International Day for the Elimination of violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day. It was inaugurated by activists at the inaugural of Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and since then it has been observed by civil society organizations and activist around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of Violence Against Women and girls.

According to a report for the period of 01.01.16 to 31.10.18 there were 876, 166, 173 cases of domestic violence filed in Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi district respectively with percentage case disposal of 23.05%, 17.46% and 50.02% respectively. The report also revealed that not a single case of domestic violence had been filed through Protection Officer and none of the cases had been disposed of within 60 days.