Domestic violence survivors should have access to legal rights: Smriti Irani

Union minister for woman and child development Smriti Irani has said that protection officers must ensure that survivors of domestic violence have access to their legal rights. On Monday, the minister has declared the statement on the virtual launch of a training programme for protection officers in responding to survivors of domestic violence.

The project series has been launched by the National Commission for Women (NCW) in collaboration with Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration. The project would be focus on the role of different stakeholders and service providers under the Act, including police, legal aid services, health system, service providers, shelter services, and one-stop centres, a statement from the government read.

This is a five-day online training programme. In her inaugural address, the minister lauded the initiative taken by NCW. She said protection officers bridge the gap between the administration and aggrieved women and it should be their priority to make it possible for the survivors to access legal rights available to them.

She added that the training will help participants gain an understanding of the legal system. And the role of protection officers and interlinkage with other stakeholders for better implementation of the Act in the training sessions.