Hundreds of women took out a rally here on Saturday to highlight their demand for security, justice and dignity.
Sexual violence cases should be tried in Fast Track Courts and the judgement declared within three months, restricting the accused from going in appeal. This demand was discussed at a conference that took place at the end of the rally which was taken out from Tallakulam to Gandhi Memorial Museum. It was organised by the Madurai Non Formal Education Centre-Star Women Federation to mark the International Women’s Day.
Twenty-four resolutions were adopted at the conference — the important ones being prevention of sexual abuse and violence against women, and strict implementation of laws by the government agencies. Men found guilty in cases of gang rape and sexual abuse of girl children should get life imprisonment, a resolution stated.
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The speakers demanded that International Women’s Day (March 8) must be declared a government holiday. A resolution was passed condemning indecent portrayal of women —the speakers demanded that this issue should be seriously dealt with and the offenders punished.
While there was a demand to include lessons on laws related to sex abuse offences in school and college syllabi, the women also wanted adequate focus on gender equality.
The demand for 33 per cent reservation for women was raised and it was insisted that the Central and State governments have to pass the needed enactment. The women demanded operation of special buses for girl students in both urban and rural areas.
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Other demands were related to micro-credit support by banks at nominal interest rate, skill development training for poor adolescent girls in urban slums and rural areas, stringent legal action to curb proliferation of material that degraded the modesty of women in the form of posters, books, films, television shows and internet.
K. Rajamani, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Anti Dowry Cell-Madurai, flagged off the rally in the morning. R. Thirunavukkarasu, Deputy Commissioner of Police, K.R. Ramalingam, former Judge, R. Ananda Valli, District Social Welfare Officer, and J. Helen Manoharan, Director, Madurai Non Formal Education Centre, spoke at the conference.