By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Aiming at providing women with first hand information on the prevailing laws that protect them from any violence, the North Eastern Network (NEN) on Friday released a Resource Directory (RD) for women as well as a guidebook translated in Khasi entitled 101 Things You Always Wanted To know About the Police But Were Too Afraid to Ask.
This guidebook, originally published by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), with an attempt to disseminate and share knowledge about the police and information related to rights, was released by East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police M Kharkrang at the Shillong Press Club.
This first-of-its-kind guidebook is an attempt to disseminate and share knowledge about the police and information related to rights and is expected to help the reduce the prevailing discrimination and violence against women (VAW) in Meghalaya.
Lauding the initiative of the NEN, Kharkrang said NEN has been playing an active role to ensure safety of women in Meghalaya.
“Meghalaya as well as the neighbouring states of the country are facing such crisis from time to time but through cooperation with the NGOs, we can ensure the safety of the women in the State”, he said.
He said that the RD as well as the guidebook will provide information about where women can seek help in different kinds of emergencies.
“Your good work will not be in vain and God will help you move forward with your excellent work”, Kharkrang said.
It may be noted that NEN has addressed the issue of discrimination and violence against women for many years now and has been working with the Department of Health as well as with the Meghalaya Police.
NEN has also set up support centre for Women (Iohlynti) at Civil Hospital, Shillong.
NEN also undertook a study to identify support services, shelter facilities, skills education, counseling and legal units for abused women in the State.