SHILLONG: The Department of Social Work, St. Edmund’s College organised a programme to mark the ‘International Day in Support of Victims of Torture’ on Tuesday. Two books – 10 Years Journey of the Department and Sketches for Social Change – in Support of Victims of Torture were also released by the department on the occasion.
The programme began with a prayer offered by Br. Simon Coelho.
Speaking at the programme as the chief guest, the Principal, Sylvanus Lamare stressed on the importance of speaking out against torture and reaching out to the victims at the local or grass root level, adding, “A drunken father is a torture to his children and our silence encourages the situation to persist.”
The HOD, Professor Audrey D. Dohling also presented the ten years’ report of the department and highlighted the major activities undertaken by them.
Rev. Reuben G. Laloo, the president of Reach Shillong Ministry and in-charge of Laitumkhrah Presbyterian Church, was one of the resource persons on the second session.
Priyanka Sangma, DSP, CID, elaborated on what torture is. She concluded by narrating the recent horrendous incident at Motphran and urged the department to organise similar awareness programmes in future.
