Government's commitment on protection of women reminded
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN
Imphal, November 29 2013 :
Stating that the struggle of women to protect themselves from different forms of gender based violence has been rough especially in the state of Manipur where the womenfolk have been facing deeper and serious concern with the prolonged imposition of Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958, human rights activist Babloo Loitongbam has stated.
Participating in a panel discussion jointly organized by Women Action for Development (WAD), Centre for Social Development (CSD), United NGOs Mission Manipur (UNM-M), New Life Foundation (NLF), Peoples Platform Secretariat (PPS) and Conflict Widow Forum (COWF) on the topic "United Nations Mandate on International Criminal court and Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958" as a part of the International Fortnight Observation protesting violence against women at Manipur Press Club here today, Babloo observed that it be wise for the government of India to uproot the draconian Act before it shouts of human rights importance to the world.
Even though India has been a member of International Human Rights Committee for six long years, it has been unsuccessful in delivering the basic rights to the women of the country who are most of the times victims through the misuse of AFSPA by Indian Security Forces, he added.
"It is not written in the law that women should be mishandled, raped or even killed at conflict zones.
But many a times, such incidents occur in the state causing the loss of many lives of women", Babloo maintained.
Babloo then said that regarding AFSPA 1958 in Manipur, the Jeevan Reddy Commission has not revealed its report of June 5, 2005 which was sent to the central government even after many years.
"It would be right to completely remove AFSPA from the state as the Act itself is a tool which can bring out the truth in the wrong.
There have been many cases against AFSPA which the central and the state government does not feel right to reveal and is kept under their sleeves, he said, adding that there are 1528 such pending cases of AFSPA in the high court and the culprits are never punished.
Earlier, delivering the keynote address, M.Sobita, secretary of Women Action Development (WAD) said that the theme of the observation is "From peace in the home to peace in the world: Challenge militarism and end violence against women" .
She maintained that the theme itself calls for the commitment of the government and society to protect women and on the other hand, warns the militants to abstain from committing violence against women.
The issue is of more concern in Manipur as thousands of people have been killed and tortured since the imposition of AFSPA in the state, she said.
"Our environment culture of impunity due to AFSPA have now reached to our communities and people and the government fail to investigate and punish the perpetrators of violence against women (VAW) taking place in the state," Sobita added.
It is the duty of the central and state government to bring out and punish the culprits rendering to women violence, said Sobita.
Irom Chanu Sharmila, who is on hunger strike since 2000, has completed 14 years of struggle with the demand for the repeal of AFSPA.
Sobita also said that WAD has the apprehension that the central and state governments will not punish the perpetrators of violence against women.
"Therefore, it was a strategic thing for India to ratify Rome Statute of International Criminal Court.
India failed to recognize the case of violence against women under AFSPA.
However, the committee affirmed that ICC can extend its jurisdiction to India considering the fact that crime against humanity, the crime of genocide such as mass killings, forceful transferring of children and war crimes such as wilful killing and torture are prevalent in Manipur," Sobita stated.