DCW meet: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta calls for making women aware of rights, safety measures

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Friday that the safety of women and girls cannot be ensured merely by making laws; it also requires making them aware of their rights and the measures available for their protection.

Addressing a meeting of the Delhi Commission for Women, Chief Minister Gupta stressed the need to further strengthen the Commission’s online complaint system and step up the panel’s activities at the grassroots level.

The Chief Minister also emphasised the need to raise awareness among girls about POCSO and cybercrimes, ensure that eligible adolescent girls have access to information and facilities related to HPV vaccination, and make the online system for disposing of women’s complaints simpler and more effective.

The meeting, held at Janseva Sadan, was attended by Commission Chairperson Lata Gupta, members and senior officials.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said college-going students should be specifically made aware of ways to protect themselves from cybercrimes.

She advised the Commission to conduct campaigns in colleges to educate students about online harassment, misuse of social media, cyber fraud and other digital crimes, and to provide information on where and how to file a complaint in the event of an incident.

The Chief Minister said it was essential for girls to be aware of their rights and the legal provisions available to protect them from sexual offences.

She asked the Commission to conduct awareness campaigns in schools and colleges to increase awareness about the POCSO Act and inform girls about the assistance and complaint mechanisms available to them in cases of exploitation or harassment.

The Chief Minister stressed the need to visit and review arrangements at One Stop Centres (Sakhi), which provide assistance to women in crisis, as well as women’s shelter and care institutions run by the government and non-governmental organisations.

CM Gupta said women staying at these institutions should receive the necessary medical care, counselling, legal assistance and rehabilitation facilities effectively, along with a safe environment.

She also stressed the need to raise awareness about HPV vaccination for the prevention of cervical cancer.

The Chief Minister also stressed the need to further strengthen the Women’s Commission’s online complaint system.

She said women should have access to a simple, accessible and reliable mechanism for complaints related to domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual exploitation and harassment.

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