Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Monday said that the society must change its mindset towards improving the safety of women.
Addressing representatives from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, the Philippines and Myanmar at the South Asian Women's Peace and Security Conference here, Rijiju said the efforts of the government, judiciary and police alone will not be sufficient to curb the menace.
"Gender bias and inequality are very grave in the country. I cannot imagine such atrocities still happening to women in the 21st century," said Rijiju.
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"Observing that crime against women is a result of a deep rooted social problem. A country cannot claim to progress where women are not safe in the society. It is not a question of man or woman, it is a matter of humanity. The community, family members must be sensitised, the cause and the solution to this issue is also within each of us," he added.
Rijiju highlighted how in contemporary conflicts, as much as 90 percent of casualties are among civilians, most of whom are women and children.
He also cautioned against the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, saying that unimaginable stories of atrocities against women and their sufferings are emerging from the areas under their influence.
"I am here to show solidarity on these issues. Consider me part of your movement: let's work together to ensure peace and security for women in these countries," he said.
