Public meeting and rally held
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 09 2016:
Different NGOs organised a mass rally and a public meeting today at Imphal, in accordance with International Human Rights Day and International Fortnight Observation Protesting Violence Against Women.
The event was a joint collaboration between many different NGOs namely United NGOs Mission Manipur, Women Action for Development (WAD), Youths' Forum for Protection of Human Rights, North-East Dialogue Forum, Conflict Widows Forum, Domestic Violence Survivor Forum, Women Empowerment for Justice, Kshetri Chandam Leikai Women Development Association and Centre for Social Development.
The mass rally was flagged off by Manipur State Commission for Women's Chairperson K Sobita Devi from Citizen Club ground, Soibam Leikai.
The rally passed through Nongmeibung, Konung Mamang and Andro Parking after which it concluded at Wangkhei Puja Lampak where a public meeting was held.
Sobita Mangsatabam (Secretary, WAD) said that the event was organised in order to combat the increasing incidents of crime against women and child trafficking in the State.
There have been around 407 documented cases of rape, murder, molestation, domestic violence, cyber-crime and trafficking from January to November of this year, she said.
She demanded the Government to implement gender policy by establishing gender department and to improve the conditions of Forensic Science Lab.
She also appealed to the Government to include a DNA Testing Centre in order to speed up the process of solving cases of violence against women.
The Human Rights Initiative has appealed to the people of diverse communities to solve their differences through peaceful means.
In the light of the 68th commemoration of the International Human Rights Day to be held tommorow, HRI urged the people of Manipur to resolve their differences and unite to preserve the peace and integrity of the State.
It further appealed to the UNC and other organisations to stop the ongoing economic blockade and counter blockades deeming it a crime against the people living in the State and urged them to take up alternative means in the future.