People should be made aware of the consequences of violation of law, Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam said on Monday and asked the media to convey the decisions of the judiciary to them so that there are fewer infringements.

The CJI, who was addressing a seminar here, said the media should highlight issues related to women who face harassment despite the fact that they have the same rights as enjoyed by their male counterparts.

Because of ignorance of their rights, women across the globe face harassment in one form or another although they have the same rights as their male counterparts, he said, adding, “Rights are the most cherished enduring assets and they lose their value if individuals are oblivious to them.”

The seminar was organised by the Lawyers Collective Women’s Right Initiative (LCWRI) and the British High Commission. Two books by LCWRI – ‘Locating the Survivor in the Indian Criminal Justice System: Decoding the Law’ and ‘The Guide for Survivors – Do’s and Don’ts’ were released.

The CJI also said gender sensitisation was the need of the hour as cases of crime against women were on rise.

“Disturbing trends indicate that gender sensitisation remains an ideal and crimes such as rape, acid attacks, honour killing and dowry deaths are the ground reality. If more people are aware of the consequences of violation of law, there would be fewer infringements,” he said.

He mentioned the West Bengal gang-rape case and Muzaffarnagar riots related gang-rape case, saying that amendments in the IPC and the CrPC were made while dealing with such cases.

“After the recent amendments in 2013, rape victims are not only entitled to medical aid free of cost in government and private hospitals, but this is the statutory mandate we have passed in the recent West Bengal case with a direction to enforce it,” he said.

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