By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Though many people find themselves victims of domestic violence cases most of them do not get reported in Meghalaya and this focal point was discussed in the one day sensitization and training programme held here at the High Court of Meghalaya.
The one day training programme was organized by North East Network (NEN) along with Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority discussed on various ways and means to curb down domestic violence from the State.
Speaking to reporters during the programme, NEN Chairperson Darilyn Syiem rued the fact that many domestic violence cases are never reported to the authorities.
“Culture of silence is prevalent in our society though it is fading away,” she told reporters.
Taking a queue from the report of the National family health survey of 2002, she informed that Meghalaya had the highest number of domestic violence cases in North East region and it stood second to the national average.
According to Syiem, the network had conducted a survey on domestic violence in three localities of city including Jaiaw and Lawsohtun and the survey indicated that crime of domestic violence was committed in three house out of five houses in Jaiaw while the figures for Lawsohtun were even more disappointing.
When asked how the menace of domestic violence cuold be curbed down, she said that the police and local durbars can play an important role to curb down the illegal practice.
Earlier, while inaugurating the sensitization programme, Meghalaya High Court Registrar and member secretary of Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority W Diengdoh asserted that the authorities must come out with a strong law to ensure that women are not victimized by way of domestic violence.
According to Diengdoh, even though there are not much of domestic violence cases reported in the State, he urged all to fight the menace collectively.
He also stated that violence against women is committed in many forms and it is a worldwide problem.