NGO bats for women, kids safety

By the end of the year, the government should set up minimum two Special Fast Track Mahila Courts in each district and four in Chennai with all facilities. The courts should have qualified advocates appointed as public prosecutors to handle Mahila Court cases only, without any political intervention.

It also wanted the government to provide full training on women and child protection laws to all police officers, besides setting up a State-level special committee headed by a DGP and headed by Superintendent of Police in all districts to prevent and probe complaints of sexual assaults on women and children.

The organisation also wanted the police to act immediately on missing women and children complaints. ‘’The First Information Report (FIR) should be filed based on the complaint and the probe should commence without any delay,’’ it said.

It also wanted publicity for the women and children helpline numbers, 181 and 1098, streamline the Social Welfare Department and set up assistance booths in all districts and provide counselling to affected people.

Favouring adequate protection to witnesses as it would ensure in conviction of the guilty, it also urged all political parties to outline the steps that would be taken to protect women and children, besides ensuring that elections candidates in Lok Sabha, Assembly and local body do not have any criminal background.