Published in E-Pao on July 23 ::
After examination of the combined fourth and fifth periodic report of India, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against women (CEDAW), which is an international human rights treaty that focuses on women’s rights, has called upon India to promptly review the continuance of the application of Armed Forces Special Powers Act and related protocols in conflict areas in accordance with the recommendations of the Justice Verma Committee report.
In its recommendation, CEDAW said that Armed Forces Special Powers Act should be amended or repeal so that sexual violence against women perpetrated by members of the armed forces or uniformed personnel be brought under the purview of ordinary criminal laws.
The Government of India should also remove the requirement for permission to prosecute members of the armed forces or uniformed personnel accused of crimes of violence against women or other women’s human right abuses and grant permission to enable prosecution in all pending cases.