Srinagar, Feb 3: A Kashmir-based civil society group Sunday slammed the Government of India over its proposed ordinance on crime against women.
 The Kashmir Centre for Social and Developmental Studies (KCSDS) chairperson Prof Hameeda Nayeem came out strongly against the proposed ordinance by the Govt of India “in which it has made some minor changes in the existing laws on rape.”
 “The move is aimed at scuttling the ground-breaking Justice Verma Commission recommendations which strike at the very root of patriarchy that is entrenched in India,” Hameeda said in a statement. “It proposes a bill of rights for women in line with the constitutional provisions. By bringing out an ordinance hurriedly as a lukewarm response to the huge public outcry against the existing environment of insecurity and lack of safety, the government has tried to bury Verma Commission recommendations which could bring about genuine changes in the environment to ensure the dignity, autonomy and integrity of women‘s selfhood in the family, public places and in the society at large.”
 Hameeda said women in conflict areas are entitled to all rights which are enjoyed by women elsewhere. “Under no circumstances could impunity be given to the perpetrators of sexual assault. The committee has recommended the immediate review of AFSPA and an end to impunity to security forces under this inhuman law. It has also recommended that they be tried in ordinary court under public criminal law. By bringing out the Ordinance the Govt has tried to muzzle the public outrage against sexual assault and in case of conflict zones legitimize rape under AFSPA,” she alleged. “But this time around Govt cannot take people for a ride. There will be fierce opposition from all quarters to compel it to bring about revolutionary changes in how women are treated by the society.”

Lastupdate on : Sun, 3 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 3 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 4 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST