5th Monitoring Committee Meeting of Special Cells for Women Held in Srinagar

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Meeting Overview

The 5th Monitoring Committee Meeting for Special Cells for Women under Police System was held on 22nd July, 2024 at Srinagar, Kashmir Valley.

This initiative is supported by the National Commission for Women (NCW) and successfully executed by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai.

The meeting focused on the ‘Violence Free Home – A Woman’s Right’ project which aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of 22 pilot Special Cells for Women located across all districts of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

These Special Cells are designed to address issues of domestic violence and provide support to the victims, to ensure that they receive timely assistance and intervention.

Chairperson’s Remarks

Rekha Sharma, Chairperson, National Commission for Women chaired the meeting. He appreciated the efforts and achievements of the Special Cells in both Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Sharma invited representatives from various departments to share their progress reports and discuss the challenges they face in their work against violence against women.

He emphasized the need to expand the reach of the Special Cells to ensure that more and more victims of violence can access the help and resources they need.

His remarks reflected the importance of collective efforts and collaboration among various stakeholders to effectively tackle domestic violence.

Progress and Challenges

During the meeting, representatives from the Special Cells and other allied departments presented their progress reports and highlighted the challenges they face.

These discussions brought forth insights into the practical difficulties faced at the ground level, such as lack of resources, social resistance and the need for better coordination among various agencies.

The objective was to identify areas of improvement and develop strategies to enhance the effectiveness of the Special Cells. By sharing their experiences, representatives can learn from each other and implement best practices in their respective areas.

The need for sensitization

One of the key suggestions from the Committee members was the need to further sensitize the police and other departments on gender-related issues.

This recommendation emphasizes the importance of training and awareness programs to ensure that all stakeholders understand the nuances of gender-based violence and are able to handle such cases sensitively and effectively.

Sensitization programs can help change attitudes, reduce prejudices and promote a more supportive environment for victims.

This highlights the need for a coordinated approach, where all departments work together to comprehensively address violence against women.

Future directions

The meeting concluded with a strong commitment to expand the reach and impact of the Special Cells for Women. The focus will be on ensuring that these cells provide strong support to survivors of violence and contribute to creating a safe environment for women in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

The Committee has resolved to enhance outreach efforts, improve coordination among various agencies, and ensure that the Special Cells are prepared to deal with the challenges they face.

This commitment includes advocating for more resources, improved training programmes and services offered by the Special Cells, and increased awareness campaigns to educate the public about the importance of combating domestic violence.