The State Legal Services Authority, West Bengal organised a Round Table Discussion on 'Trafficking, Violence against Women and Girls, Women and Girl Empowerment and Related Issues' on January 22, at the Conference Hall of the State Legal Services Authority, West Bengal.
The Special Envoy for Gender Equality, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK, Joanna Roper, graced the event with her participation in the discussion along with representatives of British Deputy High Commission, New Delhi.
The discussion which was chaired by Durga Khaitan, Member Secretary, State Legal Services Authority, West Bengal, was also attended by Indra Chakrabarty, IPS, SSP,CID,West Bengal; Pradip Panja, Registrar, Humans Rights Commission, Secretaries of District Legal Services Authorities, and representatives of various rights commission and NGOs amongst others.
Addressing the discussion, Joanna Roper said, "The UK is committed to promote gender equality and end violence against women through a foreign policy which consciously and consistently delivers for women and girls."
Durga Khaitan, Member Secretary, State Legal Services Authority, West Bengal, said that despite geopolitical and social differences, women all around the world, face similar prejudices and the State Legal Services Authority is obligated to ameliorate the gap. Both India and the United Kingdom stand together in opposing any form of violence against women so it is a welcome step on the part of the British Deputy High Commission in Kolkata to propose this Round Table discussion.
Joanna Roper also visited an anti-trafficking project supported by the British Deputy High Commission, Kolkata, and run by ASHA NGO in North 24 Parganas. After the visit, she said, "this project is focused on initiating a process with children aged 10-18 years, where through targeted activities they are empowered to become vocal, confident, change makers. Through this awareness raising project, this community is becoming better informed of the dangers of trafficking and how to ensure their own 'protection' and 'safety'.
The British Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata, Bruce Bucknell said, "The UK supports gender equality and inclusion and is committed to taking these values forward". After the discussion, the British envoy and her team paid a visit to the Justice Biswanath Somadder, the Acting Chief Justice, High Court, Calcutta, Patron-in-chief and Executive Chairman, State Legal Services Authority, West Bengal.