UN Special Rapporteur arrives; Consultative meeting with victims, NGOs today
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 27 2013 : The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, its Causes and Consequences (UNSRVAW) Rashida Manjoo arrived here today on a two-day to the State as part of her official mission to India to assess the different manifestations of violence against women.

She is currently on an official mission to India from April 22 to May 1, 2013 .

On her arrival at Imphal Tulihal Airport at 1: 30 pm, Rashida was accorded a warm welcome by members of Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur and the UN (CSCHR), leaders of different NGOs from all over the North East region, staffs of State Social Welfare Department and several victims.

Shortly after her arrival, Rashida met the top officials of the State Government and discussed issues related to crimes against women and children in the state.

Chief Secretary DS Poonia, DGP Y Joykumar, Director of Social Welfare and Commissioners of different Departments were among others who attended in the meeting and the discussion held in the conference hall of the Chief Secretary at Imphal Secretariat here.

Later, the visiting Un Special Rapporteur met L Ibetombi, Chairperson of Manipur State Commission for Women at Hotel Classic.

Rashida waving her hands while coming out from the airport

During her stay in Imphal, Rashida Manjoo would interact with rape victims and other atrocities, lawyers handling cases of crimes against women, human rights defenders and representatives of various social organizations working in the field.

Before leaving Imphal, she would also hold a consultative meeting on the topic of 'Causes and Consciousness' with these sections of the society at Hotel Classic, North AOC at 9 am tomorrow.

During the consultative meeting, it is expected that the visiting UN Special Rapporteur would be sharing the reports of her mission visit to India with the media.

It may be noted here that Rashida Manjoo arrived in India on April 22 on an official mission visit with the primary objective of collecting information on violence against women in India.

She accepted an invitation sent to her on March 13 from the side of CSCHR for covering Manipur and other North East region during her mission to India.

She would be in the country till May 1 visiting different places to collect information related to different manifestations of violence against women.

It is expected that during her mission visit, the UN Special Rapportuer would try to address violence against women broadly, focusing on both its causes and consequences according to the mandate and study the different manifestations of violence against women.