One Billion Rising campaign hits State
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 15, 2013: The world wide campaign of One Billion Rising which is aimed at checking violence against women was held yesterday in Manipur too.

The campaign was launched by volunteers of 207 countries on February 14, 2013 demanding an end to violence against women and delivery of justice in all cases of crime against women.

The One Billion Rising campaign was held today at Palace Compound under the aegis of Women Action for Development, North East Dialogue Forum, United NGOs Mission Manipur, Conflict Widow Forum and many other civil organisations.

A balloon attached with a banner embossed with the words "One Billion Rising for Justice" was released apart from lighting candles which were arranged in the form of the word "'justice'.

Later some survivors of crime against women gave their testimonies to mark the occasion.

One fundamental character of the campaign is to fight for justice by taking out rallies, and informing people about violence against women through art, dance and other media instead of silently bearing different forms of harassment and violence meted out to women.

Speaking at the campaign, WAD secretary S Sobita observed that incidence of crime against women is rising in Manipur and the degree of brutality is also magnifying.

From January till February 13 this year, Manipur witnessed 42 cases of crime against women.

These include nine murder cases, eight rape cases, 10 cases of assault, two cases of suicide and 12 cases of disappearance.

These figures are what were reported in Imphal based daily newspapers.

WAD received many more cases of crime against women which went unreported, Sobita said.

Generally, women do not want other people to know about crimes/violence done to them.

On the other hand, the rate of disposal of cases related to crimes against women or delivery of justice is dismally low.

A mourning mother who daughter has been murdered can find some solace only when the murderer(s) is/are punished according to law.

Likewise a rape victim can never wash off the ignominy or regain full self-respect by apology and money offered by rapists.

The victim can only reconcile with what has happened only when the rapist is awarded befitting punishment.

But in Manipur in most cases of crime against women including rape and murder, justice delivery is either two slow or never accomplished because of myriad factors such as failure to report the criminal acts in time, failure on the part of police to investigate such cases properly, shortfalls in police infrastructure, inadequate forensic science laboratory, infrastructure shortage of Courts etc, Sobita said.

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