Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Women (APSCW) chairperson Radhilu Chai Techi has called for a united effort from all sections of the society to reduce and eliminate the prevalence and incidence of violence against women and girls in the state.
Addressing a webinar on legal awareness organized by the APSCW on Friday, Chai said: “According to the 2019 data of the state police, cases of crime against women are highest in the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) followed by the West Siang district.”
“Domestic violence against women figures as the top category of violence against women in the state which is followed by cases of assault and kidnapping/abduction etc. Several women suffer discrimination even before their birth,” the APSCW chairman said.
Chai said cases of crime against women in the form of domestic violence and rape are also increasing rapidly across the country and it is a matter of great concern.
Registered cases of crime against women have seen an unswerving increase since 2015, rising by 7.3 percent in the year 2019 alone.
Speaking as one of the resource persons, APSCW legal advisor advocate Karmu Chotton briefed the participants on ‘dowry death’ where women die due to murder, suicide or other reasons caused by dowry demand.
She informed that eve-teasing is also a severe crime against women besides cyberstalking which is on the rise nowadays.
“Any kind of insult, teasing in public or private that outrages the modesty of a woman is a crime. We can report such cases to the police,” Chotton said.
Arunachal Pradesh State Legal Service Authority member secretary Jaweplu Chai encouraged the womenfolk to know their rights and use them whenever necessary.
She also spoke on private defense, punishments for molestation, sexual harassment, human trafficking etc, and informed that free legal aid along with counselling is provided to all the victims if required.
Advocate Raknu Koniya spoke on free legal aid and Arunachal Pradesh Victim Compensation Scheme, 2011 and how one can avail its benefits.
She briefed the participants on the process and guidelines of availing free legal aid through legal service clinics at national, state and district levels.
APSCW member Techi Hunmai and member secretary Mabi Taipodia Jini also spoke.