Dr. Charu WaliKhanna, Member, was Chief Guest at the Workshop on "Capacity Building of Judicial & Police Officials on proper implementation of women related laws" NOIDA on 07.02.2014. The programme was organised by Amity Law School, Amity University, NOIDA, UP on behalf of NCW, New Delhi.

The programme began with lighting of lamp & Saraswati Vandana. Dr Charu WaliKhanna, Member, National Commission for Women in her Keynote Address said that judiciary and police are two most important institutions to ensure proper implementation of rule of law. The police are assigned the role of a protector and they are the first institution who comes in contact with the complainant. The complainant expects them to be cooperative and friendly in behaviour and responsive and sensitive in actions while dealing with their complaint. And people expect speedy justice from the judiciary. However, there has been a need to strengthen both the institutions by sensitizing and capacity building, therefore, the Commission collaborated with Amity Law School who has capacity and expertise.

She quoted from the newspaper reports of various instances of insensitivity of judiciary i.e. Karnataka High Court was reported to have stated that spinsters are unfit for family cases, or a Supreme Court division bench has used the words 'keep' and 'one night stand'; while hearing a case of domestic violence Karnataka High Court judge counselled the victim saying 'women suffer in all marriages etc.

She said women who come to court face numerous problems including being vulnerable to threats and violence; because subordinate courtcomprise small and congested rooms without proper facilities, where the woman victim is made to stand in close proximity with the accused who is normally related to her. In addition, the courts expect certain norms of behaviour from women i.e. how a modest woman should behave. There is a gender bias in taking of evidence - difficult to prove violence by husbands and in-laws 'beyond reasonable doubts' as required by criminal jurisprudence, since, most women do not keep documentary evidence i.e. bills, medical reports, letters or personal diary etc.

Dr. Charu WaliKhanna, Member, said that sensitization will motivate police personnel to win trust of the public and eliminate fear of police from the minds of the innocents. She also stressed on the need for "Guiding Principles" and "Rights of Victims" and said that police should not have preconceived notions of a woman in mind, when the complainant comes to the police station.

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