By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: A conglomeration of nine women NGOs along with noted women activists came together on Tuesday afternoon to discuss strategies to curb the rising instances of crimes against women and children in the State.
The conglomeration which included the Lympung Ki Seng Kynthei, CSWO, KWADA, Impulse NGO Network, North Eastern Regional Domestic Workers’ Movement, NEN (North East Network), HANM (Women’s Wing), MUWWO (Meghalaya United Women’s Welfare Organization, KKHA (Khun Kynthei Hynniewtrep Association), along with Hasina Kharbhih, former Team Leader of Impulse NGO Network, and RTI activist Angela Rangad, all converged together at the office of the CSWO at Laitumkhrah and deliberated over the growing crimes against women and children.
Reflecting on the issue, members of the different organizations observed that such cases relating to flagrant violation of the right of the women folk should be transferred to fast track courts and not the District Council Court, as it was revealed that most cases in the KHADC have been lingering for a long time in gross denial of speedy justice to the victims.
The participants also felt that there should be a follow up of all such cases by identifying leading NGOs in all districts along with the help of the concerned women NGOs of the State.
It was also discussed that the NGOs will request the Meghalaya DGP to identify sensitized police Investigation Officers for such cases against women and children and the officials identified should not be transferred at the whims and fancies of politicians and bureaucrats.
“Many committees were formed in the past to address the issue of crimes against women, which were in name but actually stayed defunct. All such committees would be asked to furnish their reports or status on crimes against women,” CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing said.
They also observed that the NGOs will also monitor prominent cases like the Miller case, Small Phawa case, and other cases involving influential people, along with all rape cases, and also create awareness in other districts of the State.
The participants also pledged to hold a bigger meeting inviting all women NGOs of the State with the common goal of fighting crime against women.