The J&K State Commission for Women (SCW) Chairperson, Nayeema Mehjoor today inaugurated two-day legal awareness programme to make the women aware of their legal rights and entitlements as part of Commission’s outreach programme.The awareness programme has been organized by the SCW in collaboration with National Commission for Women, New Delhi.Addressing the gathering, Mehjoor said that the Commission is committed to bring positive and sustainable change in lives of women of the state and reassure the faith of common populace on the institutions and instruments of justice.Delineating various constitutional provisions, progressive legislation’s, and programmes for empowerment of women, she said that most women continue to remain ignorant or misinformed about what law and constitution entails for them, and how they can seek justice in case of infringement of rights.Discussing various provisions of J&K protection of women from Domestic Violence Act, 2010 and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, she further emphasized that women need to come forward and take initiative to seek redressal of their domestic and occupational issues and change their lives for good. She also stressed on women to be assertive and forthcoming with respect to their rights and their protection.
Informing the female participants about the functioning of the commission, she said that commission is involved in multitude of activities that include, among others, looking into complaints of infringements of women's rights, non-implementation of laws protecting women or non-compliance with policy ensuring welfare or providing relief to women; undertake studies or research and fund litigation involving issues affecting a large body of women. She said that the Commission is establishing an effective network with the other institution to provide timely relief to aggrieved women facing challenges.Present on the occasion were DDC, Dr Shahid Iqbal highlighted various initiatives taken by the administration favoring women in particular in multiple ways. He also informed the gathering that a single window system in shape of Universal One Stop Centre has been setup for timely redressal of issues faced by women.Secretary J&K State Commissioner for Women Aijaz Abdullah, DSWO Dr Abdul Khabir, Dy Registrar Cooperatives Waqar Talib, Assistant Labour Commissioner Rabia Mir, resource persons including Advocate Nasir Mirza and Advocate Aijaz Zaki, women and students from colleges and Higher Secondary Schools participated in the programme.