Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Network on Gender Justice (GNOGJ) has demanded an investigation be launched to enquire how the State administration gave wrong information to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) that there have been no cases of domestic violence (DV) in Goa between 2015 and 2019. They questioned if the police and authorities are deliberately withholding information at a time when the ‘One-Stop Crisis Centres’ (OSCCs) in the State report thousands of cases. They added that the National Commission For Women had gone on record that there has been an increase in the number of domestic violence cases during the pandemic.
“Has there been conscious suppression of DV data for image building of the State? Women have been deliberately prevented from accessing relief under the DV Act by creating obstacles,” said GNOJ members while addressing media on Friday.
GNOGJ has approached various authorities such as the Women and Child Department (WDC) and are now planning on meeting the Chief Minister regarding this. They have pointed out that there are a large number of flaws in the existing system that only undermine the victim as opposed to protecting her. They have also given suggestions to the government as to how the system should improve as per the DV Act. GNOGJ also called on aspiring candidates for the upcoming assembly elections to include this in their manifestos.
Adv Carolin Collaso lambasted all those who are supposed to help the DV victims and spoke about how the existing problematic process is too slow and ends up with a weak and incorrect report that being placed to the court, which reduces the chances of the victims getting justice. She questioned how lawyers, who are supposed to give free legal services, are demanding money and deliberately delaying in filing cases.
GNOJ has been raising issues with the government authorities regarding system failure to address DV and crimes against women and the many obstacles they face.
“Independent Protection Officers (POs) must be appointed, provided with requisite infrastructure and an adequate budget to function,” said activist Sabina Martins.
She also spoke about how the designated POs have messed up cases, used derogatory and accusatory language against women. She said such POs, who are revenue officers, should be under the WCD.
GNOGJ has also called for a meeting of State legal authorities, WCD and other organisations working n the issue.
GNOGJ comprises organisations like ‘ARZ’, Bailancho Saad, Canossian Samajik Vikas Kendra, Human Rights Network, Presentation Society, Saad Angam, Saad Alashiro, The Muslim Women’s Association, individuals amongst others.
