Supreme Court Judge for capital punishment in honour killings ~ Bridal Slaves Rescue & Restore campaign

EMPOWER PEOPLE is an NGO in India working to protect female victims of violence and mitigate post-violence trauma. EMPOWER PEOPLE is one of the pioneer organizations focusing on the issue of human trafficking for the purpose of forced marriage.

What is also called "bride trafficking" affects a yet unknown number of girls, particularly from poor backgrounds, who are deceived and trafficked to be sold as brides. According to information gathered by EMPOWER PEOPLE, a middleman seeks an agreement on an arranged marriage with the family of the girls. Later those girls are transferred to another places where there is a high demand of brides, like Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan where they are known as "Paro" or "Molki" (literally perched woman).

The main focus of EMPOWER PEOPLE lies on awareness raising and sensitization trainings for law enforcement agencies. The organization is also offering direct victim support and assistance to women vulnerable to human trafficking and domestic violence.

EMPOWER PEOPLE is currently developing projects of community engagement and rehabilitation of trafficking victims in both source and destination areas in seven states of India.

Visit www.empowerpeople.org.in

Supreme Court Judge for capital punishment in honour killings

CHENNAI: Decrying the practice of honour killings and fake police encounters, a Supreme Court Judge has said convicts in such brutal executions should be awarded death sentence.

Referring to honour killings prevalent in regions like western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and parts of Rajasthan, Justice Markandey Katju in a lecture here last evening said such acts were encouraged by caste panchayats.

"These honour killings were done or encouraged by these caste panchayats". As these panchayats form the vote banks for those in power "they do not want to disturb their vote bank," he said.

He said the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police "should be placed under suspension" if there were cases of honour killings in their respective districts.

"The maximum one can do if your girl is marrying someone against your will is sever social relations with her and nothing more," Katju said.

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