NHRC to take up issues concerning human rights of women

The Commission has decided to write to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court as well as to the Chief Justices of High Courts and to the Ministry of Home Affairs, requesting them to take adequate steps to ensure anonymity of rape victims. The Commission is also of the view that the maintenance allowance for the divorced women be increased from Rs. 500/- to Rs. 5,000/- per month. The Commission will also emphasize the training and sensitization of officials in handling crimes against women.

The Commission had taken up these issues following suggestions received from some senior officers of the Government of Haryana, which were sent to the Commission by the Chief Secretary of Haryana. According to the suggestions received, the present amount of allowance given to the divorced women was "woefully inadequate given today’s price index and economic situation". Though a few States have taken the initiative to increase the amount to Rs.2500/-, and in some cases Rs.3000/-, it takes a State Government a very long time to finalise such changes in the law. It has, therefore, been suggested that the Government of India should be asked to take initiative and enhance the maintenance.

On the issue of rape, it was strongly felt that even though the woman is a victim of this heinous crime, very often the cases that reach the court get known in the name of the woman, thus damning her for all time to come. Anonymity of the victim should be ensured so that rape cases do not go down in history perpetuating the name of the women, who were the victims in the first place.

Training and sensitisation of officials at different levels are also absolutely necessary so that they can deal with such crimes against women in a more sensitive manner.