Convention on crime against humanity held
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 24 2013:
A State level convention on 'Crime against humanity (women & children) : with special reference to murder and rape and murder of women and children in Manipur' was held today at Manipur press Club under the joint aegis of Centre for Social Development (Palace Compound), Women Action for Development, North East Dialogue Forum, Self Support Group, Conflict Widows Forum and new Life Foundation.
Apart from resource persons elaborating on the convention theme, family members/relatives of rape victims and a rape victim from Yairipok presented their respective testimonies.
The convention was held with Manipur High Court Bar Association president advocate Khaidem Mani as the moderator.
As a resource person, Manipur Mail editor Ningthoukhongjam Sanatomba expressed serious concern on the increasing incidents of atrocities against women and children in Manipur.
While inhuman acts against women and children used to be rare incident in the State the malaise has been gradually creeping into the Manipuri society with instances of in-laws and husbands ill-treating newly-weds on dowry issues and rape of even elderly women becoming common features in the State, said Sanatomba.
hailing the recent court decree for death sentence against the Delhi rape case convicts by stating that such stringent measure would constrain individuals to ponder before committing heinous crimes, he however conveyed strong opposition against victimising family members of accused persons or burning down their houses.
Suggesting that the victims as well as family members/relatives report incident of rape rather than silently tolerating the inhuman act so that the guilty ones are exposed and punished, Sanatomba also observed that crime against women and children testify moral degradation and flaws in social education.
The editor also cited substance abuse and indecent use of mobile phones as some other factors for increase in rape cases in Manipur.
In his deliberation, Prof MC Arun of Manipur University highlighted that in the last 10 years rape cases have not only gone up but a disturbing trend of slaying the victims has been taking place on a frequent basis.
Regretting misuse of mobile phone, degrading women to sexual object and corrupt moral character, Prof Arun expressed that alleged failure by the law enforcing agencies to nail guilty persons had been a contributing factor for the frequent incidents of crime against women and children.
Sharing his viewpoint, senior journalist Irengbam Arun said police department's incompetency in crime investigation is one of the main causes for crime in the society.
Despite ever increasing strength of the police force the fact that many cases are still pending for years is an indication that the law enforcing agencies either lack seriousness or are incompetent, said the senior journalist while suggesting that along with concentrating on tackling insurgency equal focus need to be on fighting crime against women and children.
Reminding that through cracking petty criminal cases the police department cannot claim to be effective and efficiency, he said expeditiously solving pending cases will be helpful for the police force to win the confidence of the masses.
Expressing that referring rape cases to fast track court might facilitate prompt justice delivery, Arun further stated that existence of a viable legal system would be meaningless if the police force continue to fail.
if people have no more faith that the legal system or the law enforcing agencies would delivery justice a situation might arrive when the masses eliminate accused persons or even suspects, cautioned the senior scribe.
Among others, Women Action for Development secretary Sobita Mangsatabam, social scientist Dr Dhanabir Laishram, EEVFAM secretary Neena Ningombam, Centre for Research and Advocacy secretary Jiten Yumnam and Human Rights Alert executive director Babloo Loitongbam were the other resource persons who presented papers on related topics at the convention.
Comment
