|
India
could be taking tips from Pakistan soon. The National Commission
for Women (NCW) will press for a protocol with the United
Kingdom, along the lines of the UK-Pakistan protocol, to protect
victims of dowry harassment and domestic violence in NRI marriages.
NCW chairperson
Girija Vyas, who recently returned from a 5-day trip to the
UK, said: “We will recommend that a protocol be signed with
UK similar to what Pakistan has done.”
The UK-Pakistan
protocol, signed recently, is likely to help speedy repatriation
of British nationals of Pakistani origin numbering at least
440 since October 2000 who were conned into marrying Pakistanis
against their will.
In India,
however, the problem is different. While the British foreign
and commonwealth office (FCO) office found that a large number
of Pakistanis and Bangladeshis were victims of “forced marriages",
complaints from Indians range from abandonment, dowry harassment
to domestic violence.
Officials
stress the need for coordination between offices in the two
countries. For this, Vyas has suggested that NCW, in coordination
with the ministry of overseas Indian affairs, share data on
men and women migrating to the UK after marriage and a similar
list be given by the British counterparts to India.
Vyas held
talks officials in the Indian high commission in UK and this
could also result in setting up of a welfare cell soon that
will act as a resource centre for victims.
“There
are many women who are turned out of their homes in the middle
of the night. They are not allowed to make calls or go out
unaccompanied. The welfare centre will be run by former victims
who will understand and help those calling for assistance,”
Vyas said.
From :
IndiaTimes
|
