Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 09:
A one-day workshop on 'The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 was organised under the aegis of Human Rights Law Network, Manipur at ICM Hall here today.
Women pradhans and members coming from various districts of Manipur participated in the workshop during which a handbook on the provisions of the Act translated in Manipuri language was also released.
Giving the key note address of the workshop, director of Human Rights Law Network, Manipur Meihoubam Rakesh pointed out that victims of domestic violence dare not come out to lodge complaint as they are under the impression that staying at their husbands' place would be better than anywhere else.
So the Act has given adequate provisions to protect such victims of domestic violence, he noted.
He further explained that the workshop is being organised to seek the support of the pradhans and members living in all the villages to help and protect such victims of domestic violence under the relevant provisions of the Act.
Participating in the workshop as one of the resource persons, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal RK Memcha Devi said enactment of Domestic Violence Act does not intend to bring about marital discord between the husband and the wife.
The main objective of the Act is to prevent domestic violence in the family as a result of misunderstanding and help in restoration of peace in the family.
However, if the domestic violence continues unabated even after proper counselling, then the perpetrators of the crime can be punished under the Act.
The Act has the provision for providing interim relief to a woman victim of domestic violence soon after lodged a complaint.
The complaint could be lodged either by the victim herself or by another person on her behalf with the Protection Officer or the police or service provider, or First Class Judicial Magistrate or Metropolitan Magistrate, she said, adding that complaint could also be lodged even if there is the possibility of perpetrating domestic violence in a family.
Instead of keeping quiet, victims of domestic violence need to muster up courage and stand up against the perpetrators of the violence, Memcha exhorted.