ONE DAY NATIONAL SEMINAR ON EMERGING VISTAS OF CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN
SEMINAR HALL: REPORT
1. Speaker 1: Assisted Reproductive Technology- Boon or Bane The speaker highlighted the advancement of several technological developments that have enabled an individual to go for artificial insemination, thereby doing away with the need for the natural reproductive process for consummation. The issues identified were that relating to surrogacy and the right of an unmarried woman to undergo such process. The speaker recommended that such practice be regulated by suitable legislation. 2. Speaker 2: Armed Conflict and Crimes against women: The speaker highlighted various instances where sexual violences were committed on women at the time of war. She identified that the Geneva Conventions sought to protect the women from such war crimes. Yet, there exist large scale violation of the womens body and person, at the time of wars. It was condemned that the women are treated as prizes of war. And such practices need to be shunned by appropriate action at both the national and international level. 3. Speaker 3: Cyber Crimes: The Speaker identified various kinds of cyber-related offences that are directed against women in particular. The issues of morphing; spamming; cyber-bullying were highlighted thereunder. It was observed that women are made a victim of shame due to the cyber offences and there being minimal implementation of the laws that curb such practices, the offenders are able to go scot-free. 4. Speaker 4: The speaker highlighted the sexual harassment that is faced by a woman at her workplace, that comes from the senior level management. There was an assessment of various kinds of harassment that may be ensued upon a woman in the workplace. The recommendation was made for the implementation of sexual harassment codes in the code of conduct for employees. 5. Speaker 5: The Speaker spoke about women empowerment. It was suggested that the government has made sufficient gateways for women to empower themselves, yet they fail to get empowered due to the prejudices that a male-dominated society casts unto them. 6. Speaker 6: The Speaker highlighted the abuse caused to domestic workers. The issues ranged from long hours of work to verbal abuses to sexual abuses of domestic workers. It was observed that such infringements affects their right to privacy and various other fundamental rights. It was observed that the abuse of domestic workers often goes unreported due to the lack of awareness or drive to trace such offences. 7. Speaker 7: The issue pertaining to honour-killing was amply dealt with citing caselaws, as to how the judiciary played the role of a sentinel to ensure that
honour killing is curbed. The speaker observed that the predominance of
such offences is due to the vagrancy of the khap Panchayats. 8. Speaker 8: The speaker highlighted the issue of domestic violence caused to women within their home. It was observed that such offences are due to the lack of care, support and love between members of the family. 9. Speaker 9: 10.