Mobile courts are not enough
Recently, I read a statement of the Education Minister in the media that the existing Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2003 will be amended shortly, as enacting a new law is time consuming, but he assured that the new law would be initiated (some day).
Besides the harassment or 'stalking', the new law must cover another form of harassment we are observing over the past few years, that is harassing and/or blackmailing women using the Internet. Personal photographs and videos are uploaded on the 'social networking' sites, may be 'just for fun,' by the harasser. The worst part is, most of the criminals are getting away unpunished, which only proves that the mobile courts are not enough.
Amending the Act can be a temporary solution. But if the situation demands and the existing Act does not cover all types of harassment, then the government must make a new law with more severe and stricter punishment. The types of harassments have to be defined clearly in the new law. A woman can be abused not only physically or verbally, but also mentally, which can lead her to take away her own life. This has to be addressed clearly in that law.
The nation is waiting for this issue of harassment to be addressed with utmost importance and urgency. For once, let one quick decision be taken for a good cause.
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