Mangalore, Oct 14: Merely punishing offenders in crimes against women is not enough. They should be denied of all governmental benefits, loans and subsidies and their occupational license should be cancelled. This will create awareness against such crimes and bring change in the society, said advocate Shyamala Bhandary from Kundapur.
Delivering the keynote address at a conference on'Safety of Women' jointly organised by The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and The Catholic Sabha, Mangalore Pradesh at Town Hall here on Sunday, she said that a change in the system was necessary to prevent sexual crimes against women.
“A special investigation task force should be set-up by the government to investigate heinous crimes such as rapes, murders, kidnapping and domestic violence on women.
A special judicial court should be set-up to try cases of sexual crimes,” she said, adding that certain laws had to be strengthened in order to ensure protection to women.
Under the'Protection of Women from Domestic Violence' Act, a full-time protection officer should be appointed so that protection is ensured for women especially in rural areas and a proper investigation can be done.
The government should also provide budgetary allocation to strengthen this law, she said, adding that the government had to be pressurised to bring these amendments.
She said that it was the lack of knowledge among girls about their own security and lack of awareness among people that led to instances of women-related crimes.
Awareness and education can prevent such crimes from occurring to a great extent. Along with parents, educational institutions are equally responsible for ensuring this awareness among children and young boys and girls, she said.
In his inaugural address, Bishop of Mangalore Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza said that the security of women should not be limited to be perceived as defence mechanism, but rather women should be empowered to defend themselves. Education should facilitate empowerment of women, which will ensure their security.
If the existence of women is regarded in a positive light, then they will be able to defend themselves, he said, highlighting the need for men to assert that women had equal rights.
Brahmakumari Vishweshwari of Prajapita Brahmakumari Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, Mangalore, assistant Superior-General of Bethany Congregation Sr Lillis, assistant organiser of Jamaat Islamic Hind Women's wing (Karnataka) Shameera Jahan and others also spoke on the occasion.
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