There is a need to learn about our basic rights

We learnt through their experience that violence against women is not relegated to a certain class. Abuse can be physical but mental too, as abandonment showed

A recent talk on violence against women by Mumbai Commissioner of Police S Pandey and bigwig criminal lawyer S Maneshinde was reported in this paper. Space constraints meant the extensive talk was far beyond what was reported, with both professionals giving us plenty to learn as they buttressed their points with solid cases they had taken on.

We learnt through their experience that violence against women is not relegated to a certain class. Abuse can be physical but mental too, as abandonment showed. Women have been taught or conditioned to think that they are worthy if they are married. They cling to the idea that they are married even after the husband has abandoned them for years.

There is a reluctance to file police complaints and of course, the obstacles are numerous but there are times when women can do so, but do not because of social conditioning. It is also expected that once a complaint is filed, there will be tremendous pressure to backtrack. One has to be committed and courageous enough to take it to the end.

Do read up and research on basic rights. In that way, you can call out the local police station if there is a reluctance to take in a complaint or passing the buck to other jurisdictions. While the layperson may not know every single thing, working knowledge of fundamentals will help if ever needed and offer a base from which you can state your case.

There are still so many hurdles in the complaint trail from cultural stereotypes to real attacks and attempts at stopping women from beginning to combat abuse by first filing complaints that the process may be unnerving and enervating. Yet, said the professionals, without that they can very often do nothing. The system needs to work to alleviate hardship and women work to find courage to complain. With both in tandem, there will be a smoother road ahead.

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