Baramulla, Nov 12: Government Degree College (GDC), Hadipora Rafiabad, in collaboration with the Kashmir Women’s Organisation (KWO), organised an expert lecture on the protection and promotion of women’s human rights, with a focus on legal safeguards, women’s safety, workplace harassment and the rights of female prisoners and their children.
The programme witnessed participation from students and faculty members and aimed at promoting legal literacy and awareness about constitutional protections and institutional mechanisms available to women.
The lecture was delivered by Dr Darakshan Hassan Bhat, President of the Kashmir Women’s Organisation, who highlighted the evolution of India’s criminal justice system and stressed the importance of ensuring equal access to justice, dignity and constitutional rights.
During her address, she discussed the transition from the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with the introduction of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA).
She said the new criminal laws reflected an evolving justice framework with greater emphasis on timely justice, victim protection, legal remedies and rehabilitation.
Dr Darakshan also highlighted the extension of various Central laws to Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370, explaining their relevance in strengthening the legal framework for women’s safety, security and access to justice.
A significant part of the lecture focused on the human rights of female inmates and their children. She said incarceration does not deprive women of their fundamental rights or human dignity and called for gender-sensitive treatment in prisons.
She emphasised the need to ensure proper healthcare, menstrual hygiene, nutrition, sanitation, privacy, legal assistance, education and rehabilitation facilities for female prisoners.
Regarding children living with incarcerated mothers, she stressed that they should not be treated as offenders or made to suffer because of their mothers’ circumstances. Their rights to nutrition, healthcare, education, recreation and a safe environment must be protected, she said.
The speaker also explained constitutional safeguards under Articles 14, 15, 21 and 39A, which provide for equality before law, protection against discrimination, the right to life and personal liberty, and free legal aid.
Discussing workplace safety, she highlighted provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, and explained the functioning of Internal Committees and Local Committees for addressing complaints.
She also familiarised students with support mechanisms available in Jammu and Kashmir, including One Stop Centres under Mission Shakti, Women Helpline 181 and District Legal Services Authorities, which provide legal assistance, counselling, medical support, police facilitation and temporary shelter to women facing violence.
Dr Darakshan urged students to understand their constitutional and legal rights, respect consent and personal boundaries, and actively challenge discrimination and harassment.
She stressed that legal reforms must be accompanied by awareness, effective implementation, gender sensitisation and institutional accountability to ensure the protection and promotion of women’s rights.
The programme concluded with GDC Hadipora and the Kashmir Women’s Organisation reaffirming their commitment to promoting legal literacy, gender equality and human rights awareness among students.
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