Govt aims to take the blinkers off crimes against women
In an innovative scheme aimed at spreading awareness about women’s safety, the Delhi administration has enlisted the services of some 11 lakh women. The administration intends to launch an awareness campaign about violence against girls/ women and reach out to the weaker section of society and also empower them to deal with such situations. Those in the city Government are approaching girls/women to join the cause. They are being roped in as they would be better posted to know about such situations since they too faced it at some point of time. The administration has contacted them who contacted Delhi Government’s helpline no. 181 to seek help. It may be noted that this helpline was launched by the then Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit after the barbaric December 16, gangrape in the city.
A volunteer of the helpline said on Tuesday that they have been making concerted efforts to reach out to each girl and women who had suffered physical violence and other insinuations. This has been done with the sole purpose of generating awareness about the safety and security of women in the national Capital and also providing them moral support. We have been trying to impress upon these girls and women to raise their voice against the injustice meted out to them on September 25.
This effort will continue and the helpline would like to reach out to the women from all parts of the city. It would be pertinent to mention here that September 25 is marked by the United Nations as the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women around the globe. United Nations has started to observe the 25th of every month as a day to raise awareness about the violence against women and the ways and means to deal with. Crimes against women are a reality and it is rampant all over the world and some most advanced countries too are afflicted by this menace, said a social activist. The activist further added that they would be questioning all the administration employees to wear orange bands on Thursday. “We all will be sporting orange clothes to express our solidarity with womenfolk. In fact we have asked all our callers to wear orange bands. We will be reaching out to educational institutions as well to raise awareness on violence against women in the city.”
Violence against women and girls has always been as the major concern of the human rights watch bodies and no country is an exception as they say. Studies show that over 35 girls and women have faced violence and physical assault at one point of time. Studies show that over 35 girls and women have faced violence and physical assault at one point of time. A study conducted by WHO last year found over 35 per cent women have experienced either physical or sexual violence across the world. There are other studies to show that in certain countries, the percentage is as high as 70. They were suffered with inflicted injuries or physical abuse from an intimate partner or a relative. A study paints a grim picture as how some 500,000 to 2 million people are reportedly trafficked annually into situations, including prostitution, forced labour, slavery or servitude. Women and girls account for about 80 per cent of those recovered by the law enforcing agencies around the world, the study further states.