By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Vivek Syiem has pointed out that the most serious crime against women in the state is ‘rape’ while citing gender inequality as the main reason behind this menace.
Informing this at the one-day district Youth Convention on ‘Role of youth in eradicating rape, sexual harassment and domestic violence against women’ organised by the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, East Khasi Hills at Youth Hostel here on Monday, Syiem said gender inequality exists even in a matrilineal society like Meghalaya.
“The pre-conception that man is the centre of all creation often leads to an imbalanced outlook towards things likely leading to various crimes”, he said adding that women and children are most vulnerable to such crimes.
The Additional SP (Crime) also informed that rape cases mostly happen within the family.
While deliberating on the the six types of rapes, Syiem said majority of the cases happen when a person is not in his right state of mind.
“It is therefore the priority of the police right from the top level to curb this menace along with the coordination of local NGOs and other student bodies”, he mentioned.
Highlighting on the trafficking of women in the North East, representative of the Impulse NGO Network, Rosana Lyngdoh said ethnic conflicts, insurgency and arm conflicts in the region make women and children vulnerable to trafficking.
“Women and children are easily controlled and most of the time, they are lured to false promises and marriages”, she added.
She also touched on aspects of the Look East Policy of the Central Government saying “This policy which focuses at improving the relationship with international borders and economic growth of the north east and the country as a whole is sometimes a gateway for trafficking.”
She also mentioned that Assam is amongst the North Eastern States which has the highest number of trafficking cases followed by Tripura.
Chairperson of the Meghalaya State Law Commission Fenella Lyngdoh stressed on various laws which specifically deal with giving legal protection to the women victims.
The one-day district level seminar saw the participation of over 100 young people from different parts of the district mobilized from NGOs, grassroots level Youth Clubs and women clubs including students from Martin Luther Christian University.
The seminar also coincides with the NYK Foundation day 2011.