TIRUCHI: To provide legal remedy to women against domestic violence and torture, the State Government will appoint protection officers, through the Social Welfare Department.
Until they are appointed, the district social welfare officers will act as protection officers. Women who suffer sexual, physical, economic and emotional torture at the hands of their spouses or in-laws can approach the protection officers to file complaints, S. Kannaiyan, co-ordinator of the Human Rights Law Network, said on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the valediction of the workshop on ‘disability and the law,’ sponsored by the Human Rights Law Network and the South Asia Regional Office of the Chritoffel-Blindenmission here, he said the appointment of protection officers was part of the implementation of the Domestic Violence (Prevention) Act aimed at erasing social stigma and helping the affected women overcome inhibition in seeking remedy. The protection officer would act in consultation with local service organisations and serve as a link between the affected woman and the magistrate. After conducting an inquiry into allegation of torture, he could lodge a petition with the magistrate, Mr Kannaiyan said.
Sandhya Sivakami, Director, Human Rights Law Network, Thiruvananthapuram, spoke.
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